Philae Landing on Comet
Discussion
The Rosetta probe is due to launch it's Philae lander to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko this Wednesday.
Separation should occur at about 08:35 GMT. Touchdown is expected roughly seven hours later. With the time it takes signals to reach Earth we should know just after 4pm what the outcome is.
I for one wish the ESA good luck on this unprecedented landing.
Separation should occur at about 08:35 GMT. Touchdown is expected roughly seven hours later. With the time it takes signals to reach Earth we should know just after 4pm what the outcome is.
I for one wish the ESA good luck on this unprecedented landing.
ESA officials say all's looking good for a landing on Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-2999...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-2999...
Article said:
Philae should touch the surface with a velocity of about 1 metre per second.
Foot screws and harpoons will hopefully lock it down. A small gas thruster will push the probe into the surface to give these mechanisms time to work.
Foot screws and harpoons will hopefully lock it down. A small gas thruster will push the probe into the surface to give these mechanisms time to work.
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