Rosetta

Artist's impression of Rosetta in orbit above the comet, with a probe on the comet surface
Artist's impression of Rosetta in orbit above
the comet, with a probe on the comet
surface © EADS Astrium - Erik Victor
(click to enlarge)

SciSys are responsible for the Mission Control System (MCS) of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft. In recognition of our work on the Rosetta and the Beagle 2 missions, SciSys were recently awarded the title of "Innovator of the Year" by the UK Computing Awards for Excellence 2004.

Rosetta was launched in March 2004 and is now on its way to the distant Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. In 2014 Rosetta will go into orbit around the comet and a probe will be sent down to the surface. A mission as complex and ambitious as this obviously requires a highly advanced Mission Control System.

High resolution image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
High resolution image of Comet
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
©ESA/European Southern Observatory
(click to enlarge)

The Mission Control System is one of the most critical elements of any space mission. SciSys has a wealth of experience in Mission Control Systems which was utilised for Rosetta. SCOS-2000 has become the baseline Mission Control System for ESA missions since SciSys first used it for the Rosetta and Mars Express missions. SciSys were primarily responsible for the following systems:

Artist's impression of the Rosetta spacecraft
Artist's impression of the Rosetta spacecraft
© ESA/AOES Medialab (click to enlarge)

As the mission and technology develops during Rosetta''s long flight, the Mission Control System will be used to update the software on-board the spacecraft.