[HandyDandy]

I borrowed the weight of the lander as being "one gram" while on the comet from post #23. I think I read somewhere that it weighs 1/32 of an ounce! Curiously the figure of .62miles was given for both the height of the bounce and the lateral distance that it landed from original touch-down spot.

I suppose that my suspicious theory that the harpoons actually did deploy, but into solid rock, probably would have sent Philae all the way back to Rosetta! (Especially in light of the downward thruster not working.)

[dr_lew]

suppose that my suspicious theory that the harpoons actually did deploy, but into solid rock, probably would have sent Philae all the way back to Rosetta!

If a harpoon is ejected, then the lander reacts with and equal and opposite change in momentum. It shouldn't matter if the harpoon penetrates or not. This is assuming that the harpoon has some phase of free flight, however short.

Even so, I don't think your point can be gainsayed. I think it depends on the details of the event. They should have just landed!