Why did the Rosetta probe crash into the comet?

[UglyCasanova]

Why did they crash the Rosetta probe into the comet the other day? I'm sure there was a purpose but my very brief googling is turning up nothing, just stuff about joining Philae. Why not just keep it going gathering data (I guess until the fuel to keep it stable ran out), what was the purpose of crashing it?

 

[master_shake_]

to get to the other side?

first result

After more than a decade of pursuing, and then orbiting, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta had moved too far from the sun for its solar power to operate much longer.

The European Space Agency bid it adieu on Friday with a controlled, slow-motion crash landing onto comet 67P, giving it one last chance to gather scientific data as it neared the comet's surface.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/rosetta-spacecraft-comet-legacy-1.3785869

 

[UglyCasanova]

So they crashed it to get some up close data?

 

[master_shake_]

So they crashed it to get some up close data?

looks like.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Because Doomsday was on the comet

 

[lxskllr]

 

[IronWing]

Why did the Rosetta probe crash into the comet?

It wanted to get some ጅራት, stert, bisht, պոչ, rep, quyruq, cua, ikog…

 

[SphinxnihpS]

It wanted to get some ጅራት, stert, bisht, պոչ, rep, quyruq, cua, ikog…

Those look like foreign words, where can I learn to translate them?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

So they crashed it to get some up close data?

I think the idea was similar to the old moon probes to find a landing spot. Orbit for a little bit, take pictures then accelerate toward the moon to get better pictures. This ultimately ends with a crash.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I suppose crashing it would be a viable way of getting data. There's one rule of thumb when it comes to space: as long as Jebediah Kerman survives the mission is a success.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's heading away from the sun, and Rosetta would no longer have enough solar power to keep operating. So it was a chance to get one last bit of (very) close up data.

And save the Earth 😉

 

[sdifox]

Why did they crash the Rosetta probe into the comet the other day? I'm sure there was a purpose but my very brief googling is turning up nothing, just stuff about joining Philae. Why not just keep it going gathering data (I guess until the fuel to keep it stable ran out), what was the purpose of crashing it?

It is getting very little power from the sun and will soon be out of the space agency's control so they crahsed it to gather the last bit of data possible.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/science/article/Space-photos-The-last-thing-Rosetta-saw-9534584.php

 

[Ferzerp]

I suppose crashing it would be a viable way of getting data. There's one rule of thumb when it comes to space: as long as Jebediah Kerman survives the mission is a success.

This is why when when Jebidiah could actually die and no longer be used, I stopped using him. That way he always survives.

 

[John Connor]

Why did they crash the Rosetta probe into the comet the other day? I'm sure there was a purpose but my very brief googling is turning up nothing, just stuff about joining Philae. Why not just keep it going gathering data (I guess until the fuel to keep it stable ran out), what was the purpose of crashing it?

I heard it was due to the solar panels not producing enough power.