Philae awakes from hibernation
Posted: Sun, Jun 14, 2015, 11:31 AM ET (1531 GMT)
The European Space Agency's Philae comet lander contacted Earth this weekend for the first time since shortly after its landing in November. ESA announced Sunday that it received signals from Philae, transmitted via the Rosetta orbiter, late Saturday. The data indicated the lander is in good condition and can resume operations, although controllers are awaiting additional data that the lander is expected to transmit in upcoming communications passes. Philae landed on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko November 12, but went into hibernation about two and a half days later when it exhausted its batteries after ending up in a shadowed region of the comet. Mission officials had hoped to restore contact with the lander should the comet's changing orientation bring the landing site into sunlight, allowing Philae's solar panels to generate power again.
The European Space Agency's Philae comet lander contacted Earth this weekend for the first time since shortly after its landing in November. ESA announced Sunday that it received signals from Philae, transmitted via the Rosetta orbiter, late Saturday. The data indicated the lander is in good condition and can resume operations, although controllers are awaiting additional data that the lander is expected to transmit in upcoming communications passes. Philae landed on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko November 12, but went into hibernation about two and a half days later when it exhausted its batteries after ending up in a shadowed region of the comet. Mission officials had hoped to restore contact with the lander should the comet's changing orientation bring the landing site into sunlight, allowing Philae's solar panels to generate power again.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX performs two Falcon 9 launches less than an hour apart
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, August 19
First spacewalk completed for Sophie Adenot
ESA — 6:43 am ET (1043 GMT) Satellite images show damage after a Ukrainian missile strike on a space center supporting Russia's Starlink rival
Business Insider — 6:42 am ET (1042 GMT) Space Force Selects Rocket Lab For Space Data Network Consortium, Awarded $12M in Contracts to Support Global Military Communications Network
Rocket Lab — 6:36 am ET (1036 GMT) USSF to Operate Legacy Weather Sats Until at Least 2028 as It Works on Replacements
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:36 am ET (1036 GMT) AFA Urges Congress to Fully Fund Space Force, Ramp Up F-35 Procurement
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:36 am ET (1036 GMT) |
