Rosetta space mission - Philae probe due to land on comet on 12th Nov 2014

[2hats]

It's still imaging (ROLIS). Still talking (includes running CONSERT which might yet help pinpoint the lander):

 

[2hats]

Tense?

(shift mission controller on the right)
45 minutes left till loss of signal.

 

[Supine]

Press Alt Ctrl Del!

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

 

[2hats]

Champagne is out in the lander control centre:

 

[2hats]

Dropping in to standby mode now. Science instruments powered down. Radio link still up.

Almost time for bed. One data packet per minute.

e2a: apparently sufficient radio data to locate the lander (all science data was downloaded successfully).

 

[2hats]

Loss of signal.

 

[StoneRoad]

Well done Philae, sleep tight and recharge those batteries !

Such an achievement for ESA - took so much planning and teamwork, including overcoming a few problems. Now the data can be analysed in more detail.
What next, I wonder ?

 

[Crispy]

We get to watch the comet wake up as it approaches the sun. Should be quite a show!

 

[fractionMan]

awesome

 

[ferrelhadley]

Loss of signal.

 

[Mumbles274]

Can't help but feel a little sadness this morning waking up to the news that Philae has lost power.. but still a fantastic success. Once all the data is properly analysed I look forward to some amazing findings.

I've loved the use of the phrase 'doing science' this week.. they have truly done some amazing science

 

[2hats]

There was an initial science meeting held this morning. Apparently some "stunning images" were shown. They will be published soon.

 

[RoyReed]

2hats excellent blow-by-blow account - thanks!

A fantastic achievement by ESA.

 

[prunus]

Thanks from me too 2hats, the best live blog on it on the web.

 

[gosub]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...ries-during-apology-over-offensive-shirt.html

ffs. (sorry for tainting an informative thread)

 

[gentlegreen]

Physicist with naff taste in shirts shock horror.

 

[gosub]

Physicist with naff taste in shirts shock horror.

Man helping carry out one of mankind's most impressive technical achievements, unable to focus on task in hand due to twater abuse about his clothing. Depressing.

 

[weltweit]

Well it is a spectacularly unpleasant shirt, without even considering the dubious imagery on it!

 

[gentlegreen]

Man

 

[gosub]

Laptop occasionally does its own thing

 

[2hats]

 

[2hats]

As regards the hibernation of Philae and any potential re-awakening, the orbiter Rosetta will be listening out every few days for signals from the lander. Philae's S-band antennae have a fairly wide beam (almost hemispherical) so if there is a signal (whilst the orbiter is on the 'lander side' of the comet) Rosetta shouldn't miss it.

 

[twentythreedom]

More applause for 2hats - well done

 

[Fingers]

 

[2hats]

Philae confirmed as having been located in Rosetta NAVCAM imagery just after the first bounce:

Philae touchdown site seen by Rosetta's navigation camera. The first image in this sequence was taken on 12 November at 15:30 UTC, just before the lander's first touchdown; the second image was taken at 15:35 UTC, right after touchdown. The large red circle indicates the position of the shadow of the dust cloud caused by the landing. The third image in the sequence is the same as the second, with the likely position of Philae and its shadow highlighted. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM; pre-processed by Mikel Canania.

e2a: Registering and subtracting the before and after images clearly brings it out:

 

[2hats]

Philae lander spotted bouncing merrily along in orbiter OSIRIS images:

Final location still being determined. More here.

 

[wayward bob]

managed to end up in a pretty dark hole

 

[coley]

Excellent summary on BBC4 last night, surprised at the amount of general interest claimed.

 

[2hats]

It's not actually at the resting location there but still in mid (first) bounce above the surface so may have ended up elsewhere.