On March 2, 2004, the European Space Agency launched the Rosetta mission to study Comet 67P.
Rosetta would later become the first spacecraft to orbit a comet. It was also the only mission to attempt a soft landing on a comet.
(opens in new tab)
Rosetta launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana and spent the next decade chasing after Comet 67P. When it arrived in 2014, Rosetta dropped a small lander called Philae onto the comet. Philae had a rough landing and went missing after it tumbled across the comet.
Rosetta’s cameras finally spotted Philae just three weeks before the end of the 12-year mission. In the end, Rosetta intentionally crash-landed into the comet.
On This Day in Space Archive!
Still not enough space? Don’t forget to check out our Space Image of the Day, and on the weekends our Best Space Photos and Top Space News Stories of the week.
Follow us @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
