![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2019\/01\/supermodel\/19219202-3-eng-GB\/Supermodel_small.jpg\")
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\nThis life-size copy of the world-famous Rosetta spacecraft is living out its retirement at ESA\u2019s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.\n<\/p>\n
\nEngineering models are an important part of spacecraft operations \u2013 acting as faithful and realistic testbeds for all sorts of trials and tricks too risky to attempt, first-go, on the original.\n<\/p>\n
\nModels like this also serve as mementos of our human endeavours in space, which are so often hard to visualise, and even harder to get close to.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe original Rosetta probe carried out its final manoeuvre<\/a> at 20:50 GMT (22:50 CEST) on 29 September 2016, setting itself down on comet 67P\/Churyumov\u2013Gerasimenko and sending its final image from just 24 or so metres above the surface.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile we no longer receive updates from the plucky comet-chaser, our ‘super model’ \u2013 seen here at night in its new glassed-in pavilion \u2013 reminds us every day of what a remarkable achievement this was.\n<\/p>\n \nMore photos via Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nThis life-size copy of the world-famous Rosetta spacecraft is living out its retirement at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.\n<\/p>\n \nEngineering models are an important part of spacecraft operations – acting as faithful and realistic testbeds for all sorts of trials and tricks too risky to attempt, first-go, on the original.\n<\/p>\n \nModels like this also serve as mementos of our human endeavours in space, which are so often hard to visualise, and even harder to get close to.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n