Philae spacecraft lands on comet
Posted: Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:09 AM ET (1509 GMT)
A European spacecraft landed on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko Wednesday, but bounced at least twice before coming to a rest. The Philae spacecraft separated from the Rosetta spacecraft at 4:03 am EST (0903 GMT) and touched down on the surface of the comet's nucleus at 11:02 am EST (1602 GMT). Project officials later said that data suggested the lander's harpoons, designed to secure the lander on the surface, did not deploy. Later data indicated that the lander bounced twice, the first taking the lander up to a kilometer above the surface. Philae may be resting at an angle, or even on its side, about a kilometer from the landing site. The spacecraft is communicating with Rosetta, and has transmitted some images and other data.
A European spacecraft landed on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko Wednesday, but bounced at least twice before coming to a rest. The Philae spacecraft separated from the Rosetta spacecraft at 4:03 am EST (0903 GMT) and touched down on the surface of the comet's nucleus at 11:02 am EST (1602 GMT). Project officials later said that data suggested the lander's harpoons, designed to secure the lander on the surface, did not deploy. Later data indicated that the lander bounced twice, the first taking the lander up to a kilometer above the surface. Philae may be resting at an angle, or even on its side, about a kilometer from the landing site. The spacecraft is communicating with Rosetta, and has transmitted some images and other data.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, February 16
Artemis II Moon flyby is high-risk test, but crew is ready, Polish ESA doctor says
Polskie Radio — 4:51 am ET (0951 GMT) 6 Reasons A Mars Telecommunications Orbiter Matters To Us All
Rocket Lab — 4:50 am ET (0950 GMT) Musk’s lunar city plan supercharges America’s return to the moon
The Hill — 4:50 am ET (0950 GMT) SpaceX Dragon delivers new crew to International Space Station
UPI — 4:50 am ET (0950 GMT) ISRO rocket remains washed up in Maldives? Here's what happened
CNBC TV18 (India) — 4:38 am ET (0938 GMT) |
