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European Space Agency cuts radio link to comet probe

BERLIN — The European Space Agency says it is switching off its radio link to the probe that landed on a comet, after receiving no signal from the lander for a year.

The probe Philae seen after it landed safely on the comet known as 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Photo: REUTERS

The probe Philae seen after it landed safely on the comet known as 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Photo: REUTERS

BERLIN — The European Space Agency says it is switching off its radio link to the probe that landed on a comet, after receiving no signal from the lander for a year.

The agency says the decision to shut down a communications instrument on the Rosetta spacecraft on Wednesday (July 27) was taken to conserve energy. Rosetta had used the instrument to communicate with its lander, Philae, which touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in November 2014.

During the next two months, Rosetta will use its remaining power to conduct scientific measurements before it crash-lands on the comet on Sep 30.

Data collected by Rosetta and Philae have improved scientists’ understanding of comets and the role they played in the early universe. AP

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