ESA Rosetta & Venus Express

Power Supply for main electronics & Virtis-H/-M experiment

About the Mission

The spacecraft was launched in March 2004 by an Ariane-5 from Kourou.

On 30 September 2016, after 12 years, the longtime mission ends successful and spectacular by touch down of the lander Philae onto the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The International Rosetta space mission was approved by ESA‘s Science Programme Committee as the Planetary Cornerstone Mission in ESA‘s long-term space science programme.

The mission goal is a rendezvous of spacecraft Rosetta with comet  67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. On its eight-year journey to the comet, the spacecraft will pass close by two asteroids.

Rosetta will study the nucleus of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its environment in great detail for a period of nearly two years.

The whole space probe is fully functional and has completed the first of three earth-swing-by manoeuvres, which lets the device take speed by passing close by the earth and other planets in loops before setting off on its final mission path.

Rosetta has reached as planned its destination in 2014. The long mission duration required the introduction of extended hibernation periods.

The APCON Power Supply VIRTIS-H/M provides the power for the main electronics and for the units of the Virtis-H and -M experiment.

Full redundant power supply including house keeping and command interface.