Tag: Rosetta
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Video: Lander manager provides update on Philae status
Stephan Ulamec, head of the Philae lander team at DLR, provides an update after touchdown on the comet. Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.
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Video: Mission control celebrates separation as anxiety builds over landing
Paolo Ferri, head of mission operations, describes the moment of relief when engineers confirmed the Philae comet lander separated from its Rosetta mothership. But anxiety is building over touchdown later Wednesday after telemetry data raised questions about the status of an important cold gas thruster designed to keep the lander from bouncing off the comet.…
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Live coverage: Philae “falls asleep”
Mission Status Center Live coverage of the descent and landing of Europe’s Philae spacecraft on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Text updates will appear automatically below; there is no need to reload the page. Follow us on Twitter.
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Rosetta mission’s ‘ambition’ spotlighted in film
The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission stars with Game of Thrones actor Aidan Gillan and actress Aisling Franciosi in a short film released recently to promote the spacecraft’s exploration of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Titled Ambition, the five-minute film was shot on location in Iceland in a partnership between ESA and Platige Image. “What is the key to…
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Comet lander powered up after electronics glitch
DARMSTADT, Germany — Europe’s Philae lander — still latched inside its mothership — has been activated and should be ready for release Wednesday to begin a daring first-ever descent to a comet, the mission’s flight director said Tuesday. The power-up of Philae is the first of several key milestones planned in the days leading up…
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Video: Flight director updates status of comet lander
Rosetta flight director Andrea Accomazzo says an unexpected glitch during the power-up of the Philae comet lander should not affect plans to release the probe Wednesday for a daring descent and touchdown on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
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Unprecedented cosmic choreography essential to landing on comet
Artist’s concept of the Philae comet lander ejecting from Rosetta to begin its seven-hour descent. Credit: NASA DARMSTADT, Germany — When a European landing probe goes for a daring touchdown on a comet Wednesday, officials say it would help to have a little luck on their side. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta orbiter is…
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All is ready for historic comet landing
Philae’s target — named Agilkia — is seen above the boulder-filled depression near the top of this image of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Image credit: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM DARMSTADT, Germany — This week marks the pinnacle of the professional careers of many scientists, when the European Space Agency plans to put down a three-legged robotic lander on a comet,…