Philae Spacecraft Makes Historic Comet Landing
- Details
- Category: Earth, Air, Space Science
- Published on Thursday, 13 November 2014 06:55
- Written by Janet Walker
The European Space Agency, with the assistance from the space docking launching station Rosetta, has robotically landed, which was live-streamed, the unmanned Philae Spacecraft on a comet recording and the first ever such landing by any space agency.
The historic landing, ten years in the making, provided some heart-stopping moments as it attempted to land on three landing sites on the comet, which is some 310 miles from the earth’s surface, and was bumped off course.
Stunning and never before seen images of the deep recesses of Space, the final frontier, were sent instantaneously and assisted the Lander ground control center in Cologne quickly make necessary adjustments.
The mechanically control Lander sent confirmation “Safely on the surface of comet 67P” to mission control.
In the hours since touchdown, Lander has sent stunning images which will be examined and analyzed by the ESA.
Variables which were not considered have since become factors that will greatly hamper data collection on the dusty and uneven surface.
According to ESA officials, the landing site which was originally thought to have up to six hours of direct sunlight has only 90 minutes. The Lander completely Replies on solar energy and so this glitch must now be factored into collection priority.
The Comet’s surface is covered by dust, debris and blocks, from small to large, distribution of particles flying around getting into orbit exactly trace down where the object come from.
Blocks, some five meter in size, partially covered in dust, can be seen in the images.
Philea Spacecraft will provide a wealth of information.
This is a developing story.
