Editing Rosetta (spacecraft) (section)

=== Mission firsts ===
[[File:Rosetta and Philae at comet (11206660686).jpg|thumb|upright|Illustration of ''Rosetta'' and ''Philae'' at the comet]]
The ''Rosetta'' mission achieved many historic firsts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Europe_s_comet_chaser/ |title=Europe's Comet Chaser-historic mission |publisher=European Space Agency |date=16 January 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

On its way to comet 67P, ''Rosetta'' passed through the main [[asteroid belt]], and made the first [[European Space Agency|European]] close encounter with several of these primitive objects. ''Rosetta'' was the first spacecraft to fly close to [[Jupiter]]'s orbit using solar cells as its main power source.<ref name="rosettafacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_factsheet |title=Rosetta Factsheet |publisher=European Space Agency |date=9 September 2016 |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref>

''Rosetta'' was the first spacecraft to orbit a [[comet nucleus]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28659783 |title=Europe's Rosetta probe goes into orbit around comet 67P |work=BBC News |date=6 August 2014 |access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> and was the first spacecraft to fly alongside a comet as it headed towards the [[inner Solar System]]. It became the first spacecraft to examine at close proximity the activity of a frozen comet as it is warmed by the [[Sun]]. Shortly after its arrival at 67P, the ''Rosetta'' orbiter dispatched the ''[[Philae (spacecraft)|Philae]]'' lander for the first controlled touchdown on a comet nucleus. The robotic lander's instruments obtained the first images from a comet's surface and made the first ''[[in situ]]'' analysis of its composition.