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What does a "relay phase manoeuvre" mean, and why are they performed? Those are the weirdest ones, looking very much like "heh, let's go in some random directio

• wcoenen 12y ago
  These maneuvers look strange because Rosetta is too far from the comet at those points for a real orbit. The probe can change course freely without the gravity of the comet affecting it much. The reason for the maneuvers is to maintain line of sight with the Philae lander so that communications between Earth and Philae can be relayed, hence "relay phase". Then the probe inserts itself back into an orbit.
  • akavel 12y ago
    Thanks a lot for the explanations!