1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,640
Imagine chasing a cosmic duck across the solar system.

2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:05,840
A cosmic duck?

3
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,840
Yeah, not like some intergalactic race or anything.

4
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,800
It's the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission.

5
00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:17,340
On the hunt for Comet, 67 Petriumov-Gerasimenko.

6
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:19,960
They spent a decade in pursuit.

7
00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:20,800
A decade.

8
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,000
Bought up to it and then tried to land

9
00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,120
on this tumbling, oddly shaped, icy body.

10
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:27,680
Talk about ambition.

11
00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:28,880
That's incredible.

12
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,560
Welcome to Cosmos in a Pod, Space and Astronomy series.

13
00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:32,400
Glad to be here.

14
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,640
We're diving deep into this incredible journey

15
00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,040
of Rosetta and its lander Philae.

16
00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:37,880
Okay.

17
00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,520
Exploring some surprising discoveries

18
00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,160
about this ancient relic from the early solar system.

19
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:43,320
Sounds fascinating.

20
00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,360
So we're not just talking about a quick flyby here.

21
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:46,200
No.

22
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,640
What was the European Space Agency really hoping to achieve

23
00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,080
with such a daring mission?

24
00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,040
Well, the Rosetta mission was all about

25
00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,640
deciphering the secrets held within these icy wanderers.

26
00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,480
Okay.

27
00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,200
Imagine a cosmic Rosetta stone.

28
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:00,120
Ah, I take it.

29
00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,960
But instead of unlocking ancient languages,

30
00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,480
it's giving us clues about the very building blocks

31
00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:06,880
of our solar system.

32
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,080
And maybe even life itself.

33
00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,120
They wanted to study the comet's composition,

34
00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,440
understand its potential connection to the water

35
00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,200
and organic molecules we find on Earth.

36
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:18,560
And basically get a glimpse

37
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,520
into the solar system's baby pictures.

38
00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,080
The solar system's baby pictures.

39
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,200
I love that analogy.

40
00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:26,040
Yeah.

41
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,120
Okay, that's a pretty awesome goal.

42
00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:27,960
It is.

43
00:01:27,960 --> 00:01:28,800
But let's back up a bit.

44
00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:29,640
Sure.

45
00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,880
You mentioned Rosetta chasing this comet for 10 years.

46
00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:33,720
Yeah.

47
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,320
What did that journey actually look like?

48
00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:36,160
Well.

49
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,200
Was it just a straight shot across the solar system?

50
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,440
Not quite.

51
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:40,280
Oh.

52
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,920
Rosetta's journey was more like a cosmic pinball game.

53
00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:43,760
Pinball.

54
00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,120
Using the gravity of Earth and Mars

55
00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,720
to slingshot itself toward its target.

56
00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:49,560
Wow.

57
00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:50,920
It launched in 2004.

58
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:51,760
Oh, okay.

59
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,160
And took a whopping 10 years to reach the comet in 2014.

60
00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:56,480
10 years.

61
00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:57,720
To put that in perspective,

62
00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,600
think about all the things that happened here on Earth.

63
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:00,880
Yep, that's a long time.

64
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:01,720
In that timeframe.

65
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:02,720
10 years in space.

66
00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:03,560
Aw.

67
00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:04,380
I can't even imagine.

68
00:02:04,380 --> 00:02:06,360
Did Rosetta just keep flying that whole time?

69
00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:07,920
Actually, there's a fascinating detail

70
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:09,280
you pointed out in your research.

71
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:10,120
Oh.

72
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,280
To save energy,

73
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,920
Rosetta went into a deep space slumber.

74
00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:14,760
A slumber?

75
00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,880
For nearly three years.

76
00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:17,720
Whoa.

77
00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,760
This wasn't some unclanned nap.

78
00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:20,600
Okay.

79
00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,680
They intentionally put the spacecraft into hibernation.

80
00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:24,520
Wow.

81
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,640
To conserve power during the long,

82
00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:28,200
quiet stretches of the journey.

83
00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,000
So it was like a space age power nap.

84
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,120
Exactly.

85
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:31,960
That's incredible.

86
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,760
Then in January 2014,

87
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,560
like a cosmic alarm clock going off,

88
00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,280
Rosetta woke up.

89
00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:39,120
It woke up.

90
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,080
And prepared for its rendezvous with the comet.

91
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,280
Okay, so after this incredible journey,

92
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,960
Rosetta finally reaches comet 67P.

93
00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:48,800
Yes.

94
00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,560
But now comes the truly daunting task.

95
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:51,400
Landing on it.

96
00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:52,240
Landing on it. Yeah.

97
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:53,280
And you're not talking about

98
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,040
some smooth spherical asteroid here.

99
00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:55,880
Right.

100
00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,080
You mentioned an oddly shaped icy body.

101
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,920
Comet 67P is a bit of a cosmic oddball.

102
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:01,760
Okay.

103
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:02,800
It has this very distinctive,

104
00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,400
almost duck shaped structure.

105
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,520
Shaped like a duck.

106
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,600
Imagine trying to land on a giant rotating duck.

107
00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:09,440
Huh huh.

108
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,920
Made of ice, dust, and who knows what else.

109
00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:14,960
It has cliffs, craters, boulders.

110
00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,400
A real challenge for any lander.

111
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:17,240
Yeah.

112
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,040
Not exactly a welcoming landing strip.

113
00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:19,880
Definitely not.

114
00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,200
But it's not just the shape

115
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:22,920
that makes this landing tricky, right?

116
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:23,880
You're absolutely correct.

117
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:24,720
Okay.

118
00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:25,760
Remember those physics classes

119
00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,160
you may or may not have slept through?

120
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:29,880
I think I remember a few things.

121
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,880
Gravity plays a huge role here.

122
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,360
Comets have incredibly weak gravitational pull

123
00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:37,440
compared to planets.

124
00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:38,280
Okay.

125
00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,160
Landing on 67P is like trying to stick a magnet

126
00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:42,200
to a bar of soap.

127
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:43,240
To a bar of soap.

128
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,280
It just doesn't wanna stay put.

129
00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:46,120
I see.

130
00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:47,960
Then you factor in the extreme temperatures.

131
00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:48,800
Oh yeah.

132
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,000
A surface covered in dust and ice.

133
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:51,840
Uh huh.

134
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,520
And the general harshness of the space environment.

135
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,040
Talk about a cosmic obstacle course.

136
00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,120
It sounds incredibly difficult.

137
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:00,120
It was.

138
00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:01,760
So how did the European Space Agency

139
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,480
even approach a landing under those conditions?

140
00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:05,800
Yeah, good question.

141
00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:06,920
What was their game plan?

142
00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,160
That's where Philae comes in.

143
00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,000
Philae.

144
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,520
This wasn't just some passive lander.

145
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:11,360
Okay.

146
00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,440
They eclipped it with harpoons and ice screws.

147
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:14,280
Harpoons?

148
00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,640
Designed to anchor it to the comet's surface.

149
00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:17,480
Seriously?

150
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,360
The idea was to fire these harpoons into the comet.

151
00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:22,200
Wow.

152
00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:23,240
To secure Philae.

153
00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:24,080
Okay.

154
00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,320
Accounting for that incredibly weak gravity.

155
00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:27,160
Harpoons.

156
00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:28,360
That seems a bit out there.

157
00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:29,280
It does, doesn't it?

158
00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:30,960
Even for space exploration.

159
00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,440
It might sound a bit crazy.

160
00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:33,280
Yeah.

161
00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:36,080
But remember, we're dealing with uncharted territory here.

162
00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:36,920
True.

163
00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,120
They needed a creative solution

164
00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,280
to overcome these unique challenges.

165
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:41,120
I think.

166
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,400
And the harpoon system was their best bet.

167
00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:44,240
Hmm.

168
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,640
It was a high stakes gamble.

169
00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:46,480
It sounds like it.

170
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,440
But one they were willing to take to make history.

171
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,560
So did this audacious harpoon strategy work?

172
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:53,400
Whoa.

173
00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,040
Did Philae actually manage to land

174
00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,920
on this spinning cosmic duck?

175
00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:57,760
It did.

176
00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,600
On November 12th, 2014,

177
00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,640
Philae became the first spacecraft

178
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,120
to touch down on a comet.

179
00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:04,560
A truly historic moment.

180
00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:05,800
That's incredible.

181
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,600
Landing on a comet with harpoons, no less,

182
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:08,880
has to be one of the most

183
00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,520
daring feats in space exploration history.

184
00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,240
But I have a feeling it wasn't exactly

185
00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,000
a smooth landing, was it?

186
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,880
You're right to suspect that while Philae did touch down,

187
00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,520
things didn't go quite according to plan.

188
00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,040
The harpoons didn't fire as expected.

189
00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:23,880
I don't know.

190
00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:25,480
And instead of a graceful landing,

191
00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,400
Philae ended up bouncing across the comet's surface.

192
00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:29,240
Bouncing.

193
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:30,160
Like a rubber ball.

194
00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:31,920
A cosmic bounce house that must have been

195
00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,320
a nerve-racking experience for the mission team.

196
00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:35,240
Absolutely.

197
00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,320
But even though Philae ended up in a less than ideal spot,

198
00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,320
tucked away in a shaded area,

199
00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,240
it still managed to accomplish some incredible science

200
00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,520
in the roughly 60 hours.

201
00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,360
60 hours.

202
00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:48,440
How much battery lasted?

203
00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:49,600
We only 60 hours.

204
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:50,720
That doesn't seem like much time

205
00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,520
after that epic 10-year journey.

206
00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,560
I know it sounds like a cosmic tease.

207
00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:55,400
Yeah.

208
00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,160
But remember Philae was relying on a battery

209
00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,280
that was meant to be recharged by solar panels,

210
00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:03,760
unfortunately being stuck in a shadowed area.

211
00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:04,600
I see.

212
00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,760
Limited its power supply still in those precious few hours,

213
00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,360
Philae managed to analyze the comet's surface composition

214
00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,640
and sent back some fascinating data.

215
00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,640
Okay, so even with the landing hiccups

216
00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,160
and limited battery life,

217
00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,480
Philae still managed to do some science.

218
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:20,320
It did.

219
00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,720
What did it actually find out in that short time?

220
00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,720
You noted in your research that you were really interested

221
00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,000
in the possibility of comets being a source

222
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,800
of organic molecules essential for life.

223
00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,200
Well, this is where things get really exciting.

224
00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,160
Philae detected a variety of organic molecules,

225
00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,720
including some amino acids.

226
00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:39,560
Amino acids.

227
00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,360
The very building blocks of proteins,

228
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,120
which are essential for life as we know it.

229
00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,240
Amino acids on a comet, that seems like

230
00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,760
a pretty significant discovery.

231
00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:49,600
It is.

232
00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,560
This finding supports the idea that comets

233
00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,520
might have played a role in delivering

234
00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,920
these crucial ingredients to early Earth.

235
00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:56,760
Wow.

236
00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,320
Potentially contributing to the rise of life on our planet.

237
00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,800
Philae also detected a mix of ice dust

238
00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,480
and complex hydrocarbons.

239
00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:05,320
Okay.

240
00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,640
Giving us a snapshot of the comet's diverse makeup.

241
00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,360
So despite the drama of the landing,

242
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,680
Philae delivered on its promise of revealing

243
00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,000
some of the secrets hidden within this comet.

244
00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,960
What about Rosetta? Was it just watching from a distance

245
00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,360
while Philae did its thing on the surface?

246
00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:20,200
Not at all.

247
00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:21,680
While Philae was busy on the surface,

248
00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,960
Rosetta was hard at work orbiting the comet,

249
00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,280
creating detailed maps of its surface,

250
00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,200
studying its activity, and observing how it changed

251
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,480
as it got closer to the sun.

252
00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:31,560
That makes sense.

253
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,720
Comets are known for those spectacular tails

254
00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,880
they develop as they approach the sun.

255
00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:40,240
So what did Rosetta observe about Comet 67P's activity?

256
00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,360
Was it like a cosmic fireworks show?

257
00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,560
In a way, yes, Rosetta witnessed 67P becoming more active

258
00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,360
as it neared the sun with jets of gas and dust

259
00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:50,800
erupting from its surface.

260
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:51,640
Okay.

261
00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,400
But one of the most intriguing findings

262
00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,920
was about the water on 67P.

263
00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:56,760
The water.

264
00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,040
What was so special about it?

265
00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,080
Well, it turned out to have a different flavor

266
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,600
than the water we find on Earth.

267
00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,240
Flavor? I'm not sure I follow.

268
00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:04,200
Think of it like this.

269
00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,600
Water molecules can have slightly different flavors

270
00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,320
based on the types of hydrogen atoms they contain.

271
00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:10,160
I see.

272
00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,440
Scientists call this isotopic composition.

273
00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,320
The water on 67P had a different flavor than Earth's water,

274
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,240
suggesting they came from different sources.

275
00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,440
So does this mean comets like 67P

276
00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,520
weren't the primary source of Earth's water

277
00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,040
like scientists initially thought?

278
00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,880
That's a big question that Rosetta's findings have raised.

279
00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,280
It suggests that the story of how Earth got its water

280
00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,560
is more complex than we previously assumed

281
00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:35,680
there are other possible sources like asteroids

282
00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:39,080
or even processes that happened during Earth's formation.

283
00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:40,440
It's a fascinating puzzle

284
00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,800
that scientists are still trying to piece together.

285
00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,840
It's amazing how studying a single comet

286
00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,480
can open up so many questions about our own planet's history.

287
00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:49,560
Yeah.

288
00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:51,600
But Rosetta's mission wasn't over yet, was it?

289
00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:52,440
You're right.

290
00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,720
Rosetta had one final poignant chapter

291
00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,600
to add to its incredible story.

292
00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:57,520
What happened?

293
00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,920
In 2016, it ended its mission with a controlled descent

294
00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:02,520
onto the comet's surface,

295
00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,280
joining Philae in a final cosmic embrace.

296
00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:06,880
What a dramatic finale.

297
00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,560
A fitting end for a spacecraft that had spent over two years

298
00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:13,080
dancing around this fascinating comet.

299
00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,680
But as we transition into the final part of our deep dive,

300
00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:17,920
curious, what do you think is the most enduring legacy

301
00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,120
of the Rosetta mission?

302
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,960
Rosetta's legacy goes beyond its specific discoveries.

303
00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:23,760
It showed us that daring missions

304
00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,960
to these distant enigmatic objects are achievable.

305
00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:28,800
It changed our view of comets,

306
00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,640
revealing their complexity and beauty,

307
00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,440
but perhaps most importantly,

308
00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,720
it reminded us of the power of human curiosity,

309
00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,800
our relentless drive to explore the unknown

310
00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:40,320
and the endless possibilities

311
00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,920
that lie waiting for us among the stars.

312
00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,840
Beautifully put.

313
00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,200
So as we prepare for the final leg of our deep dive

314
00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:47,760
into the Rosetta mission,

315
00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,120
I'm left wondering what other stories be comets have to tell,

316
00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,080
what other secrets are hidden within these icy wanderers,

317
00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,400
and what new questions will we uncover

318
00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,520
as we continue to explore the vast expanse

319
00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,600
of our solar system and beyond?

320
00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,480
Those are the questions that keep us looking up

321
00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,320
at the night sky filled with wonder

322
00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:05,960
and a thirst for discovery.

323
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:07,600
Join us in the final part of this episode

324
00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,960
as we explore the broader implications of Rosetta's findings

325
00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,480
and what they might tell us about the universe as a whole.

326
00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,360
Welcome back to Cosmos in a Pod.

327
00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,760
We've spent this episode exploring the incredible story

328
00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:18,760
of the Rosetta mission,

329
00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,160
from its 10-year chase across the solar system

330
00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,360
to its groundbreaking discoveries on Comet 67P.

331
00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:26,120
We've delved into the comet's strange shape,

332
00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,920
its composition, the drama of Philae's landing,

333
00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:30,120
and the intriguing findings

334
00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,360
about organic molecules and water.

335
00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:33,600
It's been quite the journey,

336
00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,480
but as we reach the end of our deep dive,

337
00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,880
I want to take a step back and consider the bigger picture.

338
00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,240
What does Rosetta's story tell us

339
00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,080
about our place in the universe?

340
00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,800
How does this one mission to a single comet

341
00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,400
impact our understanding of the cosmos as a whole?

342
00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:50,960
You know, you highlighted something really interesting

343
00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:51,800
in your research,

344
00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,160
the idea that Rosetta represents a shift in perspective.

345
00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,680
It's moved us from seeing comets as simply icy leftovers

346
00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:00,840
from the solar system's formation

347
00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,880
to recognizing them as complex worlds

348
00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,520
with their own stories to tell.

349
00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,080
I like that, comets with stories.

350
00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:07,560
What kind of stories are we talking about?

351
00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:08,400
Well, think about it.

352
00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,560
Comets are some of the oldest objects in our solar system

353
00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:13,400
they formed billions of years ago

354
00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,080
during the very dawn of our planetary neighborhood.

355
00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,200
By studying them, we're essentially unlocking

356
00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,680
a time capsule, gaining insights into the conditions

357
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,160
that existed when planets were forming

358
00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,840
and the solar system was taking shape.

359
00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,800
So Rosetta is helping us understand our own cosmic origins,

360
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,800
our place in the grand scheme of things.

361
00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,400
Exactly, it's giving us clues about the processes

362
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,200
that led to the formation of earth and the other planets,

363
00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,120
the ingredients that were present in the early solar system

364
00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,920
and the events that shaped our cosmic neighborhood.

365
00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,640
And we can't forget those intriguing organic molecules.

366
00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,720
Filet found those building blocks of life.

367
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,160
Does Rosetta's discovery change how we think

368
00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,720
about the possibility of life beyond earth?

369
00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,240
Absolutely, if comets, which are relatively common objects

370
00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,720
in the universe can carry these crucial ingredients

371
00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,520
for life, it really makes you wonder

372
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,840
if life itself might be more widespread

373
00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:04,000
than we once thought.

374
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,840
Perhaps the seeds of life are scattered

375
00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,800
throughout the cosmos carried by these icy wanderers.

376
00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,640
It's a mind blowing concept to consider,

377
00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,200
but Rosetta didn't just provide answers, did it?

378
00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,480
It also raised new questions like the mystery of earth's water

379
00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,280
and the diversity of comets themselves.

380
00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:19,720
That's the beauty of science.

381
00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,240
Every discovery opens up new avenues of inquiry

382
00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,360
leading to more questions, more research

383
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,200
and a deeper understanding of the universe.

384
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,080
Rosetta's findings have spurred a new wave of exploration

385
00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:31,840
with missions being planned to rendezvous

386
00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,520
with pristine comets, analyze their composition

387
00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,840
and even bring samples back to earth.

388
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,160
It's like Rosetta has sparked a cosmic treasure hunt

389
00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,840
inspiring us to seek out these ancient objects

390
00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,560
and unlock the secrets they hold.

391
00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:46,640
And that sense of wonder that drive to explore

392
00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,600
is at the heart of what makes us human.

393
00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,640
Rosetta's legacy goes far beyond

394
00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:53,920
its specific scientific findings.

395
00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,760
It has reminded us of the power of human ingenuity,

396
00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,000
our ability to overcome incredible challenges

397
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,880
and the profound impact that a single mission can have

398
00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,880
on our understanding of the universe

399
00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:05,120
and our place within it.

400
00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,360
It's clear that Rosetta's story is far from over

401
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,560
its discoveries will continue to fuel research,

402
00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:11,920
inspire new missions and shape our understanding

403
00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,080
of the cosmos for years to come.

404
00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:15,720
It's left us with a sense of wonder

405
00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,440
and a thirst for more knowledge,

406
00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,720
a desire to keep exploring and asking the big questions.

407
00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,760
And those questions, where did we come from?

408
00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,120
Are we alone?

409
00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,040
What else is out there?

410
00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,480
What drive us forward?

411
00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,440
Pushing us to reach further into the depths of space,

412
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,440
seeking answers and uncovering new mysteries.

413
00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,800
Well, on that note, I think we've reached the end

414
00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,240
of our deep dive into the Rosetta mission.

415
00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,800
We've journeyed across billions of kilometers,

416
00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,400
landed on a comet and explored some of the most

417
00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,080
profound questions about our place in the universe.

418
00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,400
It's been a privilege to share this journey with you.

419
00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,160
We hope you've enjoyed the ride.

420
00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,400
Don't forget to follow and subscribe to Cosmos in a Pod

421
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,600
for more fascinating space adventures

422
00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,760
and check out our YouTube channel for stunning visuals

423
00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:58,240
from the Rosetta mission.

424
00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:25,240
Until next time, keep looking up and keep exploring.