Philae lander on comet may communicate again
BERLIN — Scientists say the Philae lander, which has fallen asleep on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with its batteries depleted and not enough sunlight available, may communicate again today (Nov 15) at about 1000GMT (6am tomorrow, Singapore time).
A panoramic image of the surface of Comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko, captured by Rosettas lander Philae's CIVA-P imaging system, is seen in this European Space Agency (ESA) handout image released November 13, 2014. Photo: Reuters
BERLIN — Scientists say the Philae lander, which has fallen asleep on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with its batteries depleted and not enough sunlight available, may communicate again today (Nov 15) at about 1000GMT (6am tomorrow, Singapore time).
Scientists at the European Space Agency said on their blog early today that “from now on no contact would be possible unless sufficient sunlight falls on the solar panels to generate enough power to wake it up.”
Yesterday the scientists performed a rotation hoping to put the lander’s solar panels out of the shadow, but they said they would not know until today if they had succeeded and the lander would be able to catch enough sunlight to recharge its batteries.
Philae landed on the comet Thursday after a 10-year journey aboard the Rosetta space probe. AP
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