Rosetta, Are You Better?

[Channel Hopper]

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/12/replay-gonogo-2/

Update acknowledged, ready for separation (and landing).

 

[Channel Hopper]

Separation confirmed, now a five hour drop to the surface

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/12/rosetta-and-philae-separation-confirmed/

 

[Channel Hopper]

And a progress video

http://rosetta.esa.int/

Pictures should be available of Rosetta taken from Philae in about an hour

 

[Channel Hopper]

Confirmation that all is well with Philae

 

[Channel Hopper]

Absolutely stunning images of Philae

https://twitter.com/hashtag/CometLanding?src=hash

 

[skomedal]

https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/532575061543485440

More analysis of @Philae2014 telemetry indicates harpoons did not fire as 1st thought. Lander in gr8 shape. Team looking at refire options.

Regards

 

[Channel Hopper]

https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/532575061543485440

More analysis of @Philae2014 telemetry indicates harpoons did not fire as 1st thought. Lander in gr8 shape. Team looking at refire options.

Regards

I would seriously consider taking loads of images first before trying the harpoons

According to the landing data, there was a large bounce followed by two smaller ones. Whilst the mass of the lander is in the region of 200kgs (another washing machine sized bit of metal littering the solar system) the gravitational pull of the comet means it 'weighs' about the same as a one pound coin, and probably less on the chosen landing spot.

There is an onboard rocket to offset the harpoons deployed by Philae on landing and so far there is no data to show this is working either.

 

[PaulR]

Listening to the radio coming in to work this morning and someone from the team was saying just that. They would be doing all the tests and photographs they could which would not cause Philae to wander away.

Only when they are done (circa 2 weeks I think) would they consider trying to operate the harpoons again so that they can do the experiments that need Philae to be anchored to the surface.

 

[sonnetpete]

Only when they are done (circa 2 weeks I think) would they consider trying to operate the harpoons again so that they can do the experiments that need Philae to be anchored to the surface.

Maybe they could send Bruce Willis and his crew in...

....of course there's very little chance of them ever returning......sounds like a plan.....

 

[PaulR]

They're only good for blowing things up!

 

[dig deep]

Well, it is a Big comet

h**p://www.iflscience.com/space/graphic-shows-size-rosettas-comet

 

[Channel Hopper]

Philae may not have long. The final resting place appears to be next to a steep rise on the comet's surface. Scientists are evaluating just how much power may be sapped from the solar cells during a normal 'daily' rotation.

Philae was expected to carry out analysis of the surface until March 2015 should the landing be a success.

Some from ESA are looking into making the lander 'bounce' again, in order to move it away from the cliff, in which case the lack of harpooning may be its saviour.

 

[Llew]

Maybe they could send Bruce Willis and his crew in...
View attachment 69849
....of course there's very little chance of them ever returning......sounds like a plan.....

For a few dollars more, they could try these...

 

[PaulR]

A tweet from Milton Jones:

Hang on, about 10 years ago sent package in post the size of washing machine addressed to Comet. Do you think...

 

[skomedal]

http://storage.comet.co.uk/www/splash/html/splash.html


OOOOOOOOOOOOOPs

 

[Channel Hopper]

Not good. Philae has about 8 hours of internal battery storage left.

So the drill has come out, the main reason for the lander design.

If they can drill/analyse the surface/send back data before midday tomorrow the mission will be classed as a total success.

 

[Topper]

At the the press conference at lunchtime they indicated they could as a last ditch effort try to move Philae to a sunnier spot by firing the harpoons used to stabilise the probe whilst drilling, as so far they have not yet been deployed. It seems risky if the unit is not upright to begin with, but then they have everything to gain and nothing to lose, they may strike lucky and achieve better panel illumination, which would obviously lengthen the mission somewhat beyond tomorrow

 

[skomedal]

With its batteries depleted and not enough sunlight available to recharge, Philae has fallen into 'idle mode' for a potentially long silence. In this mode, all instruments and most systems on board are shut down.

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/15/our-landers-asleep/



Hope this is temporary and it can be revived when closer to the sun.

Must congratulate the team for their achievement so far

Regards

 

[Channel Hopper]

And while Philae nods off to sleep for a few weeks, the sexism claims aganst Taylor continue.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyng...the-day-of-the-philae-landing-will-always-be/

Funny that

https://twitter.com/ellypriZeMaN/status/532927131098300416

 

[Analoguesat]

Its really grabbed the attention of the average punter hasnt it.

Its an absolutely brilliant achievement - the pictures that have been returned are superb