Philae’s First Photos; Update on its Troubled Landing

First photo released of Comet 67P/C-G taken by Philae during its descent. The view is just 1.8 miles above the comet. Credit: ESAFirst photo released of Comet 67P/C-G taken by Philae during its descent. The view is just 1.8 miles above the comet. Credit: ESA
First photo released of Comet 67P/C-G taken by Philae during its descent. The view is just 1.8 miles above the comet. Credit: ESA

Hey, we’re getting closer! This photo was taken by Philae’s ROLIS instrument just 1.8 miles (3 km) above the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at 8:38 a.m. (CST) today. The ROLIS instrument is a down-looking imager that acquires images during the descent and doubles as a multi-wavelength close-up camera after the landing. The aim of the ROLIS experiment is to study the texture and microstructure of the comet’s surface. ROLIS (ROsetta Lander Imaging System) is a descent and close-up camera on the Philae lander.

I know, I know. You got a fever for more comet images the way Christopher Walken on Saturday Night Live couldn’t get enough cowbell.

Just for a little flavor of the rugged landscape Philae was headed toward earlier today, this photo was taken recently by Rosetta 4.8 miles (7.7 km) from the comet’s surface. Credit: ESA

Key scientists in a  media briefing this afternoon highlighted the good news and the bad news about the landing. We reported earlier that both the harpoons and top thrusters failed to fire and anchor the lander to the comet. Yet land it did – maybe more than once! A close study of the data returned seems to indicate that Philae, without its anchors, may have touched the surface and then lifted off again, turning itself from the residual angular momentum left over after its flywheel was shut down.  Stephan Ulamec, Philae Landing Manager, got a appreciative laugh from the crowd when he explained it this way:  Maybe today we didn’t just land once. We landed twice!”

Stephan Ulamec, Philae Lander Manager. Credit: ESA

Telemetry from the probe has been sporadic. Data streams come in strong and then suddenly cut out only to return later. These fluctuations in the radio link obviously have the scientists concerned and as yet, there’s no explanation for them. Otherwise, Philae landed in splendid fashion almost directly at the center of its planned “error ellipse”.

Instruments on Philae are functioning normally and gathering data as you read this.  Ulamec summed up the situation nicely:  “It’s complicated to land and also complicated to understand the landing.”

Scientists and mission control will work to hopefully resolve the harpoon and radio link issues. The next live webcast begins tomorrow starting at 7 a.m. (CST). Although nothing definite was said, we may see more images arriving still today, so stop by later.

Bob King

I'm a long-time amateur astronomer and member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). My observing passions include everything from auroras to Z Cam stars. I also write a daily astronomy blog called Astro Bob. My new book, "Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die", a bucket list of essential sky sights, will publish in April. It's currently available for pre-order at Amazon and BN.

Recent Posts

A Hyper Velocity Star Found with an Exoplanet Hanging on for Dear Life

Hypervelocity stars have been seen before but NASA scientists have just identified a potential record-breaking…

2 hours ago

Efforts to Detect Alien Life Advanced by Simple Microbe Mobility Test

Finding alien life may have just got easier! If life does exist on other worlds…

3 hours ago

Curiosity’s Other Important Job: Studying Martian Clouds

MSL Curiosity is primarily a rockhound. It's at Gale Crater, examining the rocks there and…

6 hours ago

A Balloon With a Tether Could Explore Venus’ Surface

Venus is very variable. Its surface constantly changes from volcanic activity, and the difference between…

10 hours ago

Hydrogels Could Be Ideal Radiation Protection For Astronauts

Hydrogel protection could be crucial for safe human space exploration. It’s a key problem that…

13 hours ago

To Probe the Interior of Neutron Stars, We Must Study the Gravitational Waves from their Collisions

When massive stars reach the end of their life cycle, they undergo gravitational collapse and…

1 day ago