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By William Van Zyl

Published in Oct 2024

Rosetta Spacecraft? You have heard the name Rosetta before, right? This article focuses on a spacecraft named ‘Rosetta.‘

Champollion deciphered the renowned Egyptian Rosetta Stone; this article is about another Rosetta—the Rosetta Spacecraft.

Humans want to decipher mysteries. The first one was the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Champollion did so on September 27, 1822. The French philologist announced that he’d decrypted the key to unlock Egypt’s ancient past on that day. The world marvelled!

Interestingly, both bear the same name, but why?

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Meanwhile, inside the European Space Agency (ESA).

“Do you think we’ll ever understand where we come from?” a young scientist asked, staring at the live feed of a distant comet.

“If we’re lucky,” her colleague replied, “Rosetta might give us some clues.”

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Table of Contents

More about the Rosetta:

Rosetta, a space probe developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), was launched on March 2, 2004, as part of the Horizon 2000 programme’s third cornerstone mission.

Accompanied by its lander module, Philae, Rosetta carried out an extensive study of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (67P). On its journey to the comet, the spacecraft conducted flybys of Earth, Mars, and two asteroids—21 Lutetia and 2867 Šteins—collecting valuable data along the way. The mission followed ESA’s previous successes with SOHO/Cluster and XMM-Newton, cementing its role in advancing our understanding of comets and the solar system.

Rosetta was a mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at rendezvousing with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Its objectives included deploying the Philae lander on the comet’s surface, studying the comet from orbit, and flying by at least one asteroid. The primary goals were to explore the origins of comets, examine the relationship between cometary and interstellar materials, and uncover clues about the solar system’s formation. Philae landed on the comet successfully, transmitting data for 57 hours before its battery depleted.

IMAGE. Actual footage from the Navcam. Deploying the Philae lander. Did you know the Rosetta spacecraft used Airbus Crisa electronics to guide its ten-year journey to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko? Credits: ESA/ATG medialab; Comet image: ESA/Rosetta/Navcam. Link: https://crisa.airbus.com/en/newsroom/stories/2024-03-20th-anniversary-of-the-rosetta-mission

Rosetta’s orbital manoeuvres, particularly those after November 12, 2014, are highlighted in this diagram, adapted from the Rosetta: Close Orbits to Lander Deployment animation. These manoeuvres illustrate the spacecraft’s complex path as it adjusted its trajectory to release the Philae lander and continue its detailed study of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Credit: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Rosetta_continues_into_its_full_science_phase

For your convenience, I provide a brief overview of Rosetta’s spacecraft (satellite) mission: A 10-Year Journey.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko became famous for being the target of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission, launched in 2004—the mission aimed to study comets up close, revealing insights into the early solar system. After a 10-year journey, Rosetta arrived at 67P in August 2014 and became the first spacecraft to orbit a comet.

Key highlights of the mission include:

Philae Lander: Rosetta carried a small lander, Philae, which made history in November 2014 by becoming the first to land on a comet’s surface. Although Philae experienced a bumpy landing and lost power shortly after, it provided valuable data during its brief mission.
Scientific Discoveries: Rosetta revealed detailed images and data about the comet’s structure, surface, and composition. Scientists learned that 67P has a two-lobed shape, likely formed by merging two smaller bodies. It also detected complex organic molecules and confirmed that the comet’s water differs from Earth’s, suggesting comets like 67P were not the primary source of Earth’s water.
Mission End: In September 2016, after more than two years of orbiting the comet and sending vast amounts of data, Rosetta was intentionally crash-landed on 67P to conclude its mission.

CONCLUSION: The Rosetta mission significantly expanded our understanding of comets and their role in the solar system’s evolution.

So, what did the Rosetta discover, you may ask:

In short.

From an evolutionist’s perspective, the Rosetta mission significantly advanced our understanding of the solar system’s origins and evolution. Key achievements include:

Solar System Formation: Comet 67P contains material unchanged since the early solar system, offering clues about the building blocks of planets.
Organic Molecules: Rosetta found complex organic compounds, supporting the idea that comets may have delivered the ingredients for life to early Earth.
Water on Earth: While the comet’s water composition differs from Earth’s, the mission helped explain how water and other key elements were distributed in the solar system.
Comet Evolution: Observing the comet’s behaviour near the Sun provided insights into how comets evolve and shape their environment.

Overall, Rosetta deepened our understanding of how planets and life could have ‘evolved’ from simple cosmic materials.

What would Bible Believing Christians make of the Rosetta and the study of the comet?

From a Christian Creation Perspective, interpretations of the role of comets in the formation of Earth vary depending on one’s view of how God created the universe. In general, believers in a divine creation see God as the ultimate architect of the universe, including all celestial bodies like comets. Here are some ways comets might be viewed within this framework:

God’s Instruments in Creation: Some Christians who adopt an old-earth creationist view may see comets as part of God’s natural design, serving a purpose in the early formation of the solar system. Comets could have been instruments through which God provided essential elements, like water or organic compounds, to the Earth, contributing to the planet’s habitability. This aligns with the belief that God orchestrated the natural processes leading to life.
Signs of God’s Majesty: For many believers, comets, like all celestial bodies, demonstrate the grandeur and precision of God’s creation. Psalms 19:1 (KJV) says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Comets, with their beauty and awe-inspiring journeys through space, reflect God’s work’s majesty and authority over all creation.
Young Earth Creationism: Christians who adhere to a young-earth creationist view might believe that comets, like Earth and the rest of the universe, were created by God in a short period, roughly 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, as described in the Genesis account. From this perspective, comets are part of the original creation and may not play a significant role in Earth’s formation, as they view the Earth’s creation as a direct act of God without relying on long-term natural processes.
No Central Role in Creation: Some Christians might view comets as interesting celestial phenomena but not necessarily central to Earth’s creation. They may believe that while comets are a part of God’s creation, their role is more about testifying to His creativity and omnipotence rather than directly influencing Earth’s formation.

Comets are considered part of God’s purposeful universe design in the Christian Creation View. Whether they played a role in the formation of Earth or not, they are often viewed as evidence of His divine craftsmanship.

Colossians 1: 16 & 17

16 For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together.

IMAGE: The Rosetta (spacecraft) orbiting in space. AI-generated image. Credit: Midjourney. Oct 2024. Prompt: European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta (spacecraft) mission, launched in 2004. The spacecraft had a bumpy landing on comet P67 and lost power. Rosetta intentionally crash-landed on Comet 67P to conclude its mission. The battery failed.