Comet Landing Site Chosen By Rosetta Team
- 10 years ago
Landing the Rosetta probe’s robot, Philae, on a speeding comet has been a 2-decade undertaking, and scientists are finally nearing the moment of touch down.
European Space Agency scientists are nervously waiting what is hoped to be a historic event when the Rosetta spacecraft’s robot, Philae, will attempt to land on a speeding comet, a moment 2 decades in the making.
Recently, they announced a patch of terrain on Comet 67P that, while not ideal, is the target landing site.
Much of the problem with finding a place to put the lander stems from the rocky surface and awkward shape of the celestial object.
Lack of gravity is a concern, so Philae needs a stable base upon which to anchor itself.
Said one of the team members, "We're getting very close now, and it is fascinating but I have to say also quite frightening to some degree - that 20 years of work boils down now to just a few hours. Are we going to be successful, or will we be unlucky, hitting a boulder that just happens to be under the lander?"
Early predictions indicated a 75 percent chance of success if the comet were a typically spherical shape. This comet however, has an unusual two lobe shape.
For the time being, the site is being called ‘J’ but there are plans to give it a better name.
Research into the area is ongoing, and a backup spot is still under consideration.
The projected date for the landing is November 11th.
European Space Agency scientists are nervously waiting what is hoped to be a historic event when the Rosetta spacecraft’s robot, Philae, will attempt to land on a speeding comet, a moment 2 decades in the making.
Recently, they announced a patch of terrain on Comet 67P that, while not ideal, is the target landing site.
Much of the problem with finding a place to put the lander stems from the rocky surface and awkward shape of the celestial object.
Lack of gravity is a concern, so Philae needs a stable base upon which to anchor itself.
Said one of the team members, "We're getting very close now, and it is fascinating but I have to say also quite frightening to some degree - that 20 years of work boils down now to just a few hours. Are we going to be successful, or will we be unlucky, hitting a boulder that just happens to be under the lander?"
Early predictions indicated a 75 percent chance of success if the comet were a typically spherical shape. This comet however, has an unusual two lobe shape.
For the time being, the site is being called ‘J’ but there are plans to give it a better name.
Research into the area is ongoing, and a backup spot is still under consideration.
The projected date for the landing is November 11th.