Tag: Rosetta
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Lander manager says Philae is doing well but battery life is low
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.
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Philae wins battle to send key data ahead battery depletion
ESA’s Philae lander battled against the odds on Friday, transmitting key scientific data before its batteries were depleted. Due to the unplanned location – following a couple of bounces on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko earlier this week – Philae was unable to draw the required power from its solar arrays, resulting in a battle against time to conduct…
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Researchers race to collect comet data from Philae
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…
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Mission scientist reacts to historic first images from the surface of a comet
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.
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Philae sends first image from comet
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…
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Rosetta camera captures Philae’s descent to the comet
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…
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European space probe makes first landing on a comet
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…
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Comet landing is a “go” despite thruster problem
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…
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Comet lander leaves mothership, returns farewell images
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…
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Rosetta’s Philae completes historic comet landing
ESA’s Rosetta – and her companion spacecraft – Philae – parted ways on Wednesday, ahead of a historic landing on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Philae conducted the journey towards the landing site named Agilkia, bounced at least twice, before coming to rest in a location that should still provide the lander and opportunity to conduct the…