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Is comet probe doomed? First picture from surface shows Philae has landed on its side in DARKNESS
UK Daily Mail ^
| November 13, 3014
| Jonathan O'Callaghan and Ellie Zolfagharifard and Rachel Reilly and Mark Prigg
Posted on 11/13/2014 5:49:54 AM PST by C19fan
Scientists face a desperate race against time after it was confirmed that the Rosetta probe Philae is stuck on its side on comet 67P with two legs on the ground and one stuck in the air. In a press conference Esa has revealed they aren't quite sure where Philae is on the surface but it is thought to have either fallen into a cave or next to a cliff in darkness based on images returned from the surface. With limited access to sunlight, and only a maximum of 30 hours of charge in its battery, European scientists must now attempt to obtain useful data from the probe before it dies - or find a way to recharge its solar panels and keep Philae alive. The probe landed yesterday at around 3.30pm GMT and bounced twice before it settled in its current location, just over half a mile from its target destination. And Esa said that the probe had access to just 90 minutes of sunlight every 12 hours - which was enough to partially recharge its secondary battery once its primary battery runs out of power in about 30 hours.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: churyumovgerasimenko; comet; comet67p; cometprobe; philae; rosetta; spaceprobe
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That sucks. :(
1
posted on
11/13/2014 5:49:54 AM PST
by
C19fan
To: C19fan
It’s fallen and it can’t get up.....
2
posted on
11/13/2014 5:50:55 AM PST
by
Paladin2
To: C19fan
If only NASA hadn’t been so involved in muslim outreach, perhaps they could’ve helped.
3
posted on
11/13/2014 5:54:06 AM PST
by
The Sons of Liberty
(OK. Now How many votes do we need to IMPEACH and REMOVE the bastard?)
To: C19fan
If it were a Sandra Fluke probe there would be two legs stuck up in the air.
4
posted on
11/13/2014 5:54:58 AM PST
by
MrEdd
(Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
To: C19fan
Send Bruce up there to fix it.
5
posted on
11/13/2014 5:55:00 AM PST
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
Donate And Keep The Lights On
6
posted on
11/13/2014 5:55:39 AM PST
by
DJ MacWoW
(The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
To: C19fan
Sounds like they may try to push it off the surface with an extendable arm with hopes of it resettling in a better position.
7
posted on
11/13/2014 5:56:32 AM PST
by
cripplecreek
(You can't half ass conservatism.)
To: C19fan
This is a cover up. Wolowitz ran it into a ditch.
8
posted on
11/13/2014 5:56:41 AM PST
by
CrazyIvan
(I lost my phased plasma rifle in a tragic hovercraft accident.)
To: C19fan
".... Philae is stuck on its side on comet 67P with two legs on the ground and one stuck
in the air."
Journalists.
9
posted on
11/13/2014 5:56:49 AM PST
by
Skooz
(Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
To: C19fan
Gotta phil-ae its wix-ay around in the ark-day.
To: C19fan
Space is a heartbreak, kid.
Always ready to serve up the humble pie.
11
posted on
11/13/2014 5:58:38 AM PST
by
Prospero
(Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
To: C19fan
It was designed that way
To: C19fan
Let's see:
After separation from Rosetta, the thrusters meant to direct the probe to the comet's surface didn't work.
Then, the two "harpoons" meant to anchor the probe to the comet's surface didn't deploy, resulting in the probe "bouncing" into its current position, resting in a hole or on the edge of a cliff.
So, what exactly went right with this mission?
13
posted on
11/13/2014 6:00:29 AM PST
by
Sicon
("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
To: The Sons of Liberty
If only NASA hadn’t been so involved in Muslim outreach, perhaps they could’ve helped.
When the Jews go to the moon the Muslims will start their own space program to cause a conflict.
14
posted on
11/13/2014 6:01:16 AM PST
by
Don Corleone
("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
To: C19fan
No problem. Just send a guy out there to set it right, real quick. No worries at all.
15
posted on
11/13/2014 6:02:03 AM PST
by
Lazamataz
(Proudly Deciding Female Criminal Guilt By How Hot They Are Since 1999 !)
To: Sicon
So, what exactly went right with this mission?
A lot more than what has gone wrong. Just getting there was an amazing feat.
16
posted on
11/13/2014 6:03:45 AM PST
by
cripplecreek
(You can't half ass conservatism.)
To: ImJustAnotherOkie
Except for the break over angle, that’s pretty cool.
17
posted on
11/13/2014 6:04:18 AM PST
by
Paladin2
To: Sicon
So, what exactly went right with this mission?
...
The hype machine has worked perfectly.
18
posted on
11/13/2014 6:04:59 AM PST
by
Moonman62
(The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
To: C19fan
Sheila Jackson Lee was outraged that we could put our flag on Mars but Europe can put theirs on a comet planet.
19
posted on
11/13/2014 6:06:44 AM PST
by
RetSignman
(Obama is the walking, talking middle finger in the face of America)
To: Moonman62
With apologies to Seinfeld:
Ah, that’s a shame
or
And your going to be my savior of Earth (latex salesman)? I don’t think so.
20
posted on
11/13/2014 6:08:59 AM PST
by
lynn4303
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