Tag: Rosetta

  • Loss of contact with Philae

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    STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS “SPACE PLACE” & USED WITH PERMISSION Trapped in a forbidding jumble of sun-blocking cliffs and rocky debris, the Philae comet lander, its batteries nearly depleted, somehow managed to contact the Rosetta mothership Friday in true cliffhanger fashion, relaying stored science data back to Earth and receiving commands to turn in…

  • Comet lander’s batteries near exhaustion

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    STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS “SPACE PLACE” & USED WITH PERMISSION Comet from 40 meters. Credit: Copyright ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR   Trapped in rough, forbidding terrain with its solar panels draped in shadow, the Philae comet lander raced the clock Friday to carry out high-priority science operations, including an attempt to drill into the surface of the…

  • Lander manager says Philae is doing well but battery life is low

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    The lander project manager Stephan Ulamec says tremendous science has been collected during Philae’s short time on the surface but battery life is now limited and it is unlikely to last much longer.

  • Researchers race to collect comet data from Philae

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    Artist’s concept of the Philae lander. Credit: ESA DARMSTADT, Germany — Comet scientists planned to send up new orders to Europe’s Philae lander Thursday to kick off a second day of research after the probe endured a jumpy touchdown on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Time is of the essence because the oven-sized landing craft is facing a power…

  • Mission scientist reacts to historic first images from the surface of a comet

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    Rosetta mission scientist Matt Taylor says the science team is jubilant after the Philae lander captured the historic, first close up images of the surface of a comet and began returning data from its science instruments.

  • Philae sends first image from comet

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    The first image from the surface of a comet! This picture from the Philae lander’s CIVA camera system confirm the probe is safely on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA DARMSTADT, Germany — Europe’s Philae lander radioed home Thursday, sending the first picture from the surface of a comet hours after a dramatic descent…

  • Rosetta camera captures Philae’s descent to the comet

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    Image: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA. Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera witnessed Philae’s descent to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November. This animated gif comprises images captured between 10:24 and 14:24 GMT (onboard spacecraft time). More images showing Philae closer to the surface are still to be downloaded. Separation occurred onboard the spacecraft at…

  • European space probe makes first landing on a comet

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    Philae’s descent imaging camera took this picture of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at a distance of 3 kilometers about one hour before touchdown. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR DARMSTADT, Germany — After making history Wednesday as the first spacecraft to touch down on a comet, Europe’s Philae lander collected data on the rugged alien world’s environment and may have rebounded…

  • Comet landing is a “go” despite thruster problem

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    At the moment of touchdown on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the landing gear will absorb the forces of landing while ice screws in each of the probe’s feet and a harpoon system will lock Philae to the surface. At the same time, a thruster on top of the lander was supposed to push it down to counteract…

  • Comet lander leaves mothership, returns farewell images

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    Europe’s Philae lander — with its landing gear and instrument booms extended — is seen by Rosetta.Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA DARMSTADT, Germany — Europe’s comet-bound Philae probe released from its Rosetta orbiter mothership Wednesday, and the two spacecraft snapped farewell photos as they went separate ways for the first time after a ten-year journey…