OU showcases pioneering space research at Royal Society exhibition

Posted on 30 June 2016 • Space

The OU will be showcasing the results of its pioneering research from the Rosetta spacecraft at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2016. The comet revealed: Rosetta and Philae at Comet 67P will exhibit research collected from the European Space Agency (ESA) Rosetta Mission, and will be supported by the OU and other partners*.

OU researchers led the development of Ptolemy, an instrument attached to the Philae Lander of the Rosetta Mission, which studied samples of gas and ice after landing on the rocky surface of the comet in November 2015. They also contributed to two other instruments on the Philae Lander: MUPUS (Multi-Purpose Sensor), an instrument which measures the physical properties of a comet, and the first instrument ever developed to measure the dynamics of space dust around a comet.

What would the Comet smell like?

Members of the public will learn about the science behind flying to, landing on, and studying of Comet 67P; experience what the Comet would smell like; and join the Philae Lander as it descends from the Rosetta spacecraft to the surface in a state-of-the-art virtual reality area. The Rosetta scientists will also be on hand to explain what we have learned about the history of the comet and the formation of our Solar System.

Research Fellow at The Open University, Colin Snodgrass, said:

The Rosetta Mission has provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study a comet from its surface; an achievement that was only possible through a decade of collaboration between organisations across Europe. Our exhibit lets members of the public become human Rosettas, experiencing the fascinating sights and smells of Comet 67P!

The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition opens from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th July 2016 at the Royal Society: Carlton House, Central London.Visit the exhibition website for more information.

 

*Partners supporting the exhibit: University College London (leading the exhibition) / The Open University / European Space Agency / Imperial College London / Queen’s University Belfast / Queen Mary University of London / SEPnet / University of Kent / University of Oxford / University of Oxford