Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko / Image credit ESA The weekend brought great news for the European Space Agency’s Rosetta/Philae mission. From ESA’s Rosetta blog: “Rosetta’s lander Philae is out of hibernation! The signals were received at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt at 22:28 CEST on 13 June. More than 300 data packets have been analysed […]
JAXA, the Japanese space agency successfully launched the Hayabusa2 spacecraft on its way to an asteroid sample return mission overnight. Liftoff, which took place aboard a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA rocket, designated #26, took place at 1:22:04 PM Japan Standard Time on Wednesday. December 3rd from the Tanegashima Space Center. According to JAXA, the launch […]
At just after 10 AM CST (US) Wednesday morning, November 12, the European Space Agency received confirmation that the Rosetta spacecraft’s Philae lander touched down on its target, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, currently more than 500 million kilometers away from Earth. The initial jubilation over what appeared to be a perfect descent and touchdown, and a moment of […]
Estimate of Philae’s approximate orientation imposed over image taken shortly after landing. Image Credit : ESA Mission Update ESA’s Rosetta Blog, Comments follow: “With its batteries depleted and not enough sunlight available to recharge, Philae has fallen into ‘idle mode’ for a potentially long silence. In this mode, all instruments and most systems on board […]
Update: At 10:03 AM CST, the European Space Agency Rosetta control room erupted in hugs, cheers, and a cry of “We’re down! We’re down!” Original Story The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission is on track to attempt a historic first soft landing on a comet on Wednesday. After separating from the the Rosetta spacecraft overnight, […]
Recent Comments