Scientists set for historic comet landing attempt | Inquirer News

Scientists set for historic comet landing attempt

/ 03:44 PM November 12, 2014

The picture taken with the navigation camera on Rosetta and released by the European Space Agency ESA shows a raised plateau on the larger lobe of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It was captured from a distance of 9.8 km from the center of the comet (7.8 km / 4.8 miles from the surface) Oct. 24,  2014. On Wednesday, Nov. 12,  2014 the Philae lander will be detached from Rosetta to land on the comet. (AP Photo/ESA)

The picture taken with the navigation camera on Rosetta and released by the European Space Agency ESA shows a raised plateau on the larger lobe of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It was captured from a distance of 9.8 km from the center of the comet (7.8 km / 4.8 miles from the surface) Oct. 24, 2014. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 the Philae lander will be detached from Rosetta to land on the comet. AP

BERLIN— Scientists at the European Space Agency are poised to begin a historic attempt to land a spacecraft on a comet.

It would be the climax of a decade-long mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Article continues after this advertisement

The decision whether to proceed will be made before 0735 GMT (2:25 a.m. EST) on Wednesday.

FEATURED STORIES

If all goes to plan, the lander will separate from Rosetta about an hour later and drift down to the comet, where it will latch on using harpoons and screws.

Confirmation of a landing, if successful, should reach Earth — 500 million kilometers (311 million miles) away — by about 1603 GMT (11:03 a.m. EST).

Article continues after this advertisement

Scientists hope the mission will help them learn more about the origins of comets and other celestial bodies.

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES

Article continues after this advertisement

Spacecraft nears comet after crossing billions of miles

Comet-chasing probe nearing its target

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Comet, landing, Rosetta, Space

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.