Rosetta Comet Landing: Why We Should All Be Excited
From the realms of science fiction to science fact, the Rosetta mission will reach its climax on Wednesday, when the mission scientists attempt their most audacious feat to date — to put a robotic lander on a moving comet.
It has been a decade-long chase around the solar system for the spacecraft to catch up with its constantly moving target, Churyumov-Gerasimenko — better known as Comet 67P. For many who gaze dreamily at the stars above, this is one of the most exciting thing to happen in recent memory. But why should everyone else care?
To answer this question, CNN has brought together five experts in space science to explain why the Rosetta mission is a monumental achievement, regardless of whether or not they succeed in putting the Philae lander on the surface of the comet.