Home News The Rosetta Orbiter – Philae Comet Mission

The Rosetta Orbiter – Philae Comet Mission

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The Rosetta Space agency are currently undertaking a fantastic mission. Their goal is land the Philae probe module on the surface of Comet 67P/C-G. Philae separated itself from the Rosetta orbiter at 9:03am this morning and began its seven hour descent towards Comet 67P/C-G and at Confirmation of a successful touchdown is expected in a one-hour window centred on 17:02 GMT / 18:02 CET. The first image from the surface is expected some two hours later. Philae will touchdown on the surface of the Comet 67P/C-G otherwise known as the singing comet. It will attach itself using tunnelling drills as there is very little gravity on the comet.
 

Philae, which has spent 10 years fixed to the side of Rosetta during the journey across the solar system, cannot be steered. Once it was released, it was on its own. It will take surface samples, panoramic pictures, gas measurements, magnetic field measurements and project close up images of the surface. The Space nerd in me is very excited about this entire project.

The Image above is Philae detaching itself from the Rosetta orbiter and starting its decent towards Comet 67P/C-G. The Rosetta has a lovely twitter feed that is keeping folks up to date you can view it here https://twitter.com/ESA_Rosetta you can also follow the live stream of the touchdown as it happens here http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/ It’s a wonderful time to be alive people, I warn you now if one of you philistines starts playing Aerosmith as it all kicks off I will find you and I will hurt you.

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