Rosetta probe set to meet comet after 10-year chase
By David Shukman
Science editor, BBC News
After a journey that has lasted a decade, Europe's Rosetta spacecraft is now on its final approach to a comet.
The tiny probe is set to rendezvous in a few hours with one of the strangest objects in the solar system.
The latest in a series of manoeuvres will bring Rosetta to within 100km of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
One of the scientists leading this European Space Agency (Esa) venture described it as "the intercourseiest, most fantastic mission ever".
Confirmation of Rosetta's rendezvous with 67P - the start of its extraordinary trek alongside the comet - should come by 09:35 GMT (10:35 BST).
Brief encounters
Throughout human history, comets lighting up the night sky have triggered fascination and fear but their speed and distance have made them difficult to investigate.
One theory is that they delivered water, carbon and other essential building-blocks for life to the early Earth.
Full article and resources here:
BBC News - Rosetta probe set to meet comet after 10-year chase (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28640787)
ESA Science & Technology: Rosetta's target: comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/14615-comet-67p/)
Comet - body, water, Earth, life, gas, system, carbon, surface, part, Age-old fascination, Halleys comet, Comet Hale-Bopp (http://www.scienceclarified.com/Ci-Co/Comet.html)