Why pursue such a unique career? The mission aims to gather comprehensive data about a comet to shed light on the solar system’s origins, potentially providing insights into the beginnings of water and life on Earth, which may have originated from comet impacts. Comets are remnants from the solar system’s formation billions of years ago. The question, “How did the solar system begin?” is captivating yet abstract, far from the everyday inquiries most of us engage with during our workdays. So, what motivates the scientists behind the Rosetta mission in this pursuit? I spoke with several members of the Rosetta team to understand their dedication to studying these distant celestial bodies.
“It’s genuine exploration, and what could be more thrilling than that?” exclaimed Dr. Leo McGregor, a radio astronomer who has dedicated two decades to the Rosetta mission. When he began, he was the youngest member on the team, chosen for the project’s long-term nature. When I asked Dr. McGregor what has sustained his interest all these years, he shared his excitement about analyzing the composition, speed, and temperature of the gases surrounding the comet, known as the coma, as well as the comet’s nucleus. He added, “At the end of the day, scientists are driven by a desire to witness something nobody else has seen, to unravel a mystery. That emotional connection motivates us daily and keeps us awake at night.”
Similarly, Dr. Sarah Finch and Dr. Alex Darnell, who collaborate on an ultraviolet spectrometer that assesses the comet’s surface and tail composition, expressed that the thrill of discovery fuels their commitment. “This is real exploration,” said Dr. Finch. “What’s more exhilarating than that?” Dr. Darnell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “firsts are naturally exciting. You can only guess the unknowns, but you don’t truly know.”
The landing of Philae on Comet P67 was a remarkable technological first and likely the most recognized achievement of the Rosetta mission. However, the journey has included many milestones. The mission was envisioned in the late 1970s, approved in 1993, and launched in 2004. Dr. McGregor reminisced about a particularly thrilling moment: “When your instrument survives launch and you turn it on for the first time, capturing what we call ‘first light,’ it’s exhilarating!” Rosetta, equipped with various instruments, experienced several such “first light” moments. Following its launch, the spacecraft pursued Comet P67 beyond Jupiter, reaching a distance from the sun where its solar panels couldn’t generate enough energy, causing it to enter a hibernation phase for over two years. Dr. Ethan Palmer, who studies the comet’s dust environment, shared that his most memorable moment wasn’t the recent landing but rather when Rosetta awakened from its slumber in January. “It’s rare for a spacecraft to be out of touch for so long, and we were all uncertain whether Rosetta and its instruments would still function,” he explained.
“While my colleagues focused on the lander, I was in Darmstadt on landing day, experiencing a mix of emotions,” Dr. Palmer recounted. “It was thrilling to be part of such a tense moment, but also a relief that my own stressful moment had passed, allowing me to enjoy theirs.”
Collaboration is a significant aspect of the Rosetta project. The data collected by the Rosetta and Philae teams is diverse; some scientists analyze dust, while others focus on ice and gases. It is this collective effort that will yield answers to pressing questions. Dr. Paul Jensen, who studies the comet’s nucleus, is eager to uncover details about its interior, as it could reveal how the first macroscopic bodies formed in the solar nebula 4.5 billion years ago, a crucial step toward understanding planet formation.
Dr. McGregor is exploring the relationship between the comet’s surface and coma, investigating how both evolve as the comet travels through the solar system and experiences temperature changes. “Understanding how the nucleus transforms with each orbit around the sun is essential for extrapolating information about the solar system’s formation,” he elaborated. Although each scientist focuses on specific aspects, their findings become meaningful when interconnected. “We concentrate on distinct areas,” Dr. McGregor said, “and periodically we pause to reflect, ‘Am I making progress toward the larger goal?’”
Many Rosetta scientists describe their passion for their work as dual-faceted. Dr. Palmer encapsulates this as “head and heart.” “On one side, you have the technical details, the mechanics of how we achieve our goals. On the other, there’s the joy of discovery—uncovering something unknown about the universe and our place within it.” Dr. Darnell shares a similar philosophy, likening science to art: “People might not immediately see how it improves their lives—this isn’t going to create a better toaster—but just like art, it feels important. It’s worth investing precious resources, whether taxpayer money or our focus. It just feels meaningful.”
In summary, dedicating one’s career to comet exploration is an exhilarating journey of discovery, collaboration, and emotional fulfillment. Scientists like Dr. McGregor, Dr. Finch, and their colleagues are united in their quest to answer profound questions about our solar system’s origins, driven by both intellectual curiosity and a deep emotional connection to their work.