ESA corrects Rosetta spacecraft trajectory

Paris -- The European Space Agency says it has successfully corrected its Rosetta spacecraft's trajectory, optimizing its fly-by next month of the asteroid Steins.

The trajectory correction Friday used data from the ESA's first optical tracking of an asteroid target, with the spacecraft's cameras used to calculate the asteroid's location.

Rosetta's first major correction maneuver in the approach phase took place while the spacecraft was approximately 10.5 million miles from Steins. The spacecraft's thrusters burned for approximately 2 minutes, correcting its Sept. 5 fly-by trajectory.

"The closer we get to Steins, the more accurate our knowledge of the asteroid's position relative to Rosetta will be," said Trevor Morley, leader of the Rosetta Flight Dynamics Orbit team. "Thanks to Rosetta's cameras, we will obtain increasingly precise measurements that will allow us to adjust again, if necessary, Rosetta's orbit for an optimal asteroid encounter."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.