Philae Lander Phones Home

After months of being "asleep," the "Philae Lander" has woken up. The probe "Philae Lander" landed last year on comet 67P.  It has been collecting and studying samples looking for water and other possible evidence of life which is then transmitted to Earth. Due to its distance from the Sun, the lander went into "sleep mode" because of the darkness of space, not to mention it landed on the dark side of the comet.

Because of this, it lacked the solar energy needed to recharge its battery cells. Well, now the lander is closer to sunlight and has charged its battery cells.  It then sent Earth a signal which made everyone in the scientific community happy because things seem to be working as they should.  Here is a tweet the lander posted:

Hello Earth! Can you hear me? #WakeUpPhilae

— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) June 14, 2015

I hope we can learn more from the Philae Lander. There is so much to see and learn about out there in the universe.






Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/philae-comet-lander-establishes-contact-earth-200004749--abc-news-topstories.html

http://www.iopblog.org/todays-physics-news-philae-lander-wakes-up-and-asteroid-day-to-raise-cash-for-an-infra-red-telescope/

Rosetta Finds Heavy Water

Rosetta which landed last month on comet Churyumov-Gerasimeko (67P) detected water vapor. However, the data show something different that what scientists were expecting. For some time, it has been theorized that comets brought water to Earth during its formation. However, comet 67P has a composition of water that is different from that on Earth. The water on the comet has three times (5.3 ± 0.7) × 10⁻⁴⁾ more of a chemical isotope which weights more than hydrogen which we call deuterium.

This find is significant because it presents the idea that comets brought water to Earth as a "too easy" explanation, if you will.  More studies need to be done. It may be possible that water from extraterrestrial sources changed its composition as it entered Earth's atmosphere or interacted with the compounds and isotopes on the surface. We do not know for sure.  










Source:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30414519

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2014/12/09/science.1261952

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/dec/10/water-comet-67p-earth-rosetta

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30414519

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/dec/10/water-comet-67p-earth-rosetta

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/rosetta-instrument-reignites-debate-on-earths-oceans/index.html#.VIqcENLF-gG

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/rosetta-finding-deepens-mystery-earths-water/story?id=27506825

Philae Lander Asleep

I have bad news to share.  The successful landing of the Philae Lander on comet 67P is having a huge setback. The lander is in a location where there isn't much sunlight.  Because of this, the probe has gone into "idle" mode or sleep mode.  It may be a long while until scientists at the European Space Agency learn anything more.

The probe did send some data yesterday, but then stopped responding.  This is unfortunate indeed and puts a "wrench" in the search for knowledge regarding these celestial bodies which have been a big part of man's history and experience on Earth.  We can only hope that the comet will move to a location where sunlight from our Sun can hit the solar panels on Philae and recharge its batteries.  Perhaps this is a good time to study how to obtain energy from cosmic radiation.  The universe is full of this stuff which is energy.  If we can find a way to convert it into electrical energy so it can charge batteries on probes, then situations like what Philae is experiencing now will never occur.  Probes will have an unlimited supply of energy around itself from which to recharge its battery cells.

My #lifeonacomet has just begun @ESA_Rosetta. I'll tell you more about my new home, comet #67P soon… zzzzz #CometLanding
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 15, 2014

Source:

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/15/our-landers-asleep/

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/nov/14/philae-comet-lander-drills-hammers-rosetta

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30058176

Comet Landing

It has been an exciting day today.  I did not get enough sleep due to the fact that I was watching the livestream of the space probe Philae which was scheduled to land on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.  After a long 10 year flight, the probe finally completed its mission, but not without issue. It had issue with its thruster and harpoon firing mechanism which would have helped secure its landing due to the low gravity the comet has.

However, Philae communicated back to Earth stating that it had landed.  Everyone at the European Space Agency erupting with celebration.  However, they are still waiting for more confirmation that the probe is functioning well and is in fact well secured on the comet. Its mission is to land on the comet and send information on the composition of the comet.

I am glad it landed and hope it continues to work while on the surface of the comet 67P. The knowledge we will obtain from this mission will help us a great deal to understand our Solar System, the Universe, Earth and possibly even how life began.

Photo sent by Philae as it landed on comet 67P

.@ESA_Rosetta See for yourself! ROLIS imaged #67P when we were just 3km away! Glad I can share. #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/b6mcid2fsn
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014

Touchdown! Min nya adress: 67P! #CometLanding
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014

It’s me… landing on a comet & feeling good! MT @ESA_Rosetta: I see you too! #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/DjU0J1Ey4H
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014

.@philae2014’s first postcard just after separation – it’s of me! #CometLanding Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA pic.twitter.com/OXJwGunL3V
— ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) November 12, 2014

Thank you! RT @WilliamShatner: My message to @ESA_Rosetta and it's away team! http://t.co/WtQVg8aHWy
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 11, 2014

Source:

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/The_Rosetta_lander

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/nov/12/rosetta-mission-philae-historic-landing-comet

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30026398

http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2014/nov/13/philae-lander-sends-picture-from-comet-video1

https://twitter.com/Philae2014

Rosetta & 67P

After ten long years in space, space craft "Rosetta" finally came into contact with comet 67P aka Churyumov-Gerasimenko. "Rosetta" is now orbiting the comet and is schedule to land on it. This probe is making human history. It is the first probe from Earth to rendezvous with a comet.

The European Space Agency has been directing this project and has been keeping people abreast of the latest news via Twitter. I have pulled a "late-niter" just to see the moment when it reached the comet which was early this morning. The comet and probe are between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter.

Information from this mission will be beneficial for us. "Rosetta" will sent back data to Earth
regarding the composition of this comet and possibly shed light as to whether or not comets were responsible for the water we have on Earth and if in fact they do carry the ingredients for life.

It is theorized that water on Earth came from the impacts of icy comets that hit our infant planet billions of years ago. The ice melted bringing liquid water. It is also believed that these comets carry the building blocks for life which mixed with elements already on Earth bringing about an array of lifeforms via Evolution.

Journey of Rosetta as it uses planetary gravitational pulls to slingshot itself

You can follow "Rosetta" here:

Tweets by @ESA_Rosetta


Blog: http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/









Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/06/world/rosetta-spacecraft-comet-approach/

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/

http://online.wsj.com/articles/rosetta-mission-reaches-comet-in-first-for-space-travel-1407322701

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/06/rosetta-comet_n_5653750.html