Rosetta's journey through the Solar System (Click on the picture to see in larger scale); (c) DLR CC-BY 3.0
Rosetta's journey through the Solar System (Click on the picture to see in larger scale); (c) DLR CC-BY 3.0
To reach its destination adapting its route to match the comet's trajectory and substantial changes in speed were necessary. In practical terms, the orbiter accelerated by building momentum as it passed by Earth or Mars on what is known as a swing-by manoeuvre.
