Mission phase
Approach & Characterization
The final approach, when the target grows from a point of light into a resolved world and the spacecraft measures its shape, spin, and gravity to plan operations.
- Type
- Mission phase
- Domain
- Scientific connections
- Connections
- 4
- Type: Mission phase
- Domain: Scientific connections
Experience system V6
Mission phase scientific profile
A graph-grounded scientific layout that adapts to available evidence, imagery, relations, and source coverage.
- 01
Observe
The page falls back to graph and source evidence when no cleared image is available.
- 02
Measure
Measurement panels use graph coverage, catalog identifiers, and source availability without inventing values.
- 03
Locate
Preceded by Launch & Cruise.
- 04
Connect
4 graph relations shape the knowledge viewport.
- Object type
- Mission phase
- Graph relations
- 4
- Verified sources
- 2
- Image records
- 0
- Domain
- Scientific connections
- Status
- Graph entity
Scientific map
Atlas context
- Preceded by
Launch & Cruise
- Followed by
Proximity Operations
- Associated with
Rosetta
- Associated with
OSIRIS-REx
Original SVG diagram
Scientific schematic
- Object class
- Mission phase
- Catalog numbers
- Not recorded
- Graph relations
- 4
- Sources
- 2
Visual knowledge graph
Relationships, not isolated facts
This viewport is generated from the Asteria knowledge graph. Science, culture, and interpretive links remain separated by domain so visual context never changes the evidentiary meaning of a relation.
- Preceded byLaunch & Cruise
- Associated withOSIRIS-REx
- Followed byProximity Operations
- Associated withRosetta
Continue the atlas
Curated next objects
Launch & Cruise
The launch and the long interplanetary cruise to the target, often using gravity assists or ion propulsion to reach a distant small body.
mission phaseProximity Operations
Extended operations close to the body — global mapping, orbiting, and selecting sites for a landing, sampling, or impact.
space missionRosetta
Comet orbiter & lander · ESA · launched 2004.
space missionOSIRIS-REx
OSIRIS-REx collected a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu and returned it to Earth in 2023.
asteroid101955 Bennu
A near-Earth asteroid sampled by NASA's OSIRIS-REx.
comet67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
A periodic comet orbited and landed on by ESA's Rosetta mission.
Data
Scientific data & provenance
Data & provenance
- Stable ID
mission_phase:approach-and-characterization- Type
- Mission phase
- Domain
- Scientific connections
- Relationships
- 4
- Graph version
- 1.0.0
Dataset membership
Open data
In the graph export: graph.json · graph.jsonld
Planned API: GET /api/v0/entities/mission_phase:approach-and-characterization
Scientific quality
Substantial3 of 4 applicable dimensions complete
- Description
- Complete
- Source coverage
- Complete
- Relationship coverage
- Complete
- Review coverage
- None
- Citation coverage
- Not applicable
- Image coverage
- Not applicable
- Timeline coverage
- Not applicable
Scientific entity. Dimensions that cannot apply to this object are excluded rather than counted as gaps. See the evidence framework and authority dashboard.
You might also explore
- Asteroid101955 BennuLinked through OSIRIS-REx
- Comet67P/Churyumov–GerasimenkoLinked through Rosetta
- Mission classOrbiter MissionLinked through Rosetta
- Mission classRendezvous MissionLinked through Rosetta
- Mission phaseSurface Operations & SamplingLinked through Proximity Operations
- Launch vehicleAriane 5Linked through Rosetta
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- ESAEuropean Space Agency
European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.