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ROBOT PROBE PHILAE uploaded a slew of last-minute data to Earth yesterday from a comet in deep space, before going to sleep at the end of its historic mission, ground controllers said.
Data streamed in as soon as Europe’s pioneering robot lab re-established late-night contact with its orbiting mother ship, Rosetta, but its limited battery soon started wavering.
“My #lifeonacomet has just begun,” said an official tweet in the name of the washing machine-sized lander perched on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko since Wednesday — concluding with a restful “zzzzz”.
ESA Rosetta Mission / Twitter.@Philae2014 S'ok Philae, I’ve got it from here for now. Rest well... #lifeonacomet #67P #CometLanding
— ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) November 15, 2014
The European Space Agency (ESA) said its robot lab had entered “idle mode”, with all instruments and most systems shut down after three days of non-stop work — taking pictures and probing the comet’s density, temperature, composition and atmosphere.
“Prior to falling silent, the lander was able to transmit all science data gathered,” said a statement.
The lander and its mothership, which relayed Philae’s data to Earth, had only two communications windows per day — the last opened around 2130 GMT yesterday and closed at 0036 GMT the next morning as Rosetta disappeared in orbit behind the comet.
Mission controllers had feared the robot may not even have enough power to make contact during this window — but they were pleasantly surprised.
“Science from an alien world” ESA Operations tweeted when contact was made. “Info now flowing from @ Philae2014.”
The channel should open again around 1000 GMT Saturday, but lander manager Stephan Ulamec told AFP from mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, he did “not really expect” contact with Philae then.
“The chances that we could reestablish the link again tomorrow are really very, very low,” he said.
“The battery is not completely empty, but it is below the level the central computer needs to boot” up.
In one of many jaw-dropping achievements, the robot lab appears to have lifted itself slightly yesterday and rotate the larger of its solar panels to absorb as much energy as possible to be stored for a possible wakeup later.
Philae had landed in a dark ditch after a bouncy touchdown Wednesday, and did not get enough sunlight to recharge its batteries sufficiently to extend its mission.
Mission engineers dream, however, of making contact with the lander “at some point” in the coming months as the comet, with Philae hopefully still clinging to its surface, moves closer to the Sun.
Philae’s historic on-site survey of a comet travelling at 18 kilometres (11 miles) per second, currently at a distance of 510 million kilometres (320 million miles) from Earth, is the highlight in a more than decade-long mission.
Philae landed Wednesday after a nail-biting seven-hour, 20-km descent from Rosetta, which had travelled more than a decade and 6.5 billion kilometres (four billion miles) to meet up with the comet in August this year.
The touchdown did not go entirely as planned, when Philae’s duo of anchoring harpoons failed to deploy and it lifted off again… twice.
The lander finally settled in a crevice in a location that remains a mystery, and data revealed it was shadowed from sunlight that could have extended its core, battery-powered mission of 60-odd hours.
‘First comet drilling’
Among the most anticipated data from Philae is chemical analysis of a drill sample which scientists hope will shed light on the origins of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago, and maybe even life on Earth.
The ESA confirmed that Philae had drilled Friday, though it did not specify whether a sample had been obtained.
Philae Lander / TwitterI confirm that my @RosettaSD2 went all the way DOWN and UP again!! First comet drilling is a fact! :) pic.twitter.com/eE3xL8CGk0
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 14, 2014
The Rosetta-Philae team said Friday they were ecstatic with the results.
“We’re in the middle of drinking champagne because this mission is a success,” Philippe Gaudon, the head of the Rosetta project at France’s space studies centre CNES, told AFP early this morning.
All 10 instruments on board the 100-kilogramme (22-pound) lab had kicked into action.
“This machine performed magnificently under tough conditions, and we can be fully proud of the incredible scientific success Philae has delivered,” said Ulamec.
The €1.3-billion mission aims to unlock the secrets of comets, which some astrophysicists believe may have “seeded” Earth with some of the ingredients for life.
- © AFP 2014.
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SF will never say such actions are not justified. They still claim the Birmingham bombings were legitimate targets and it was a result of the phones were not working which led to innocent people being murdered. When dealing with a group of people ie SF, who quite clearly have an across the board low level of intelligence and education (there is the odd clever one), coupled with their lack of moral threshold, it is always going to be difficult to move forward.
@Nick Allen: what makes you think this was the work of republicans?
@Nick Allen: Clearly you have a low level of intelligence as the Waterside area is THE loyalist area of Derry city and it’d be more likely to see a polar bear than a Shinner there
@Nick Allen: nick as a Derry man I can tell you that these pipe bombs were found in a staunchly loyalist area of Derry,but don’t let the facts get in the way of your agenda
@Paul Devlin:
I️ didn’t suggest it was SF. The article said it needs people from across the community to say it is and always was unjustified. SF is definitely a stakeholder in the community and I️ was simply highlighting that they will never say that.
@Nick Allen: what are you on about? A big long post of rubbish. Check the facts first maybe.
@Ross Taylor:
Ross, I️ think it maybe you lacking the grey cells. Try reading the article again and then my comment. Then please come back and highlight where I️ said it was SF and how my comment does not specifically reference a point made in the article
@Martin Doherty:
No agenda, just stating the facts. As I said to the other posters who don’t manage to read the article or my comment correctly, please show me where I️ said this was SF
@Harry morriarty:
Again another person not able to assimilate simple information. Try reading the article and my response again
@Martin Doherty:
Nick is a member of the Fine Gael multiple account ghoul squad on here. The ones that like to haunt the comments section to fabricate as much nonsense as possible. They get particularly aroused and hard when they find SF articles.
@Tweed Cap:
The article is not about SF and if you care to read it and if you knew anything about the history you would probably understand that it is not suggesting it was SF. What other name do I use? Any proof of that or is it just more of the BS you make up on here on a regular basis?
@Nick Allen: Well, that’s a retreat quicker than diarrhea. I’ve read, and re-read your original post. It mentions SF only. Nothing about loyalists. So it’s 100% that your intention was to lay the blame at SFs door.
@Nick Allen:
Pull the other one Nicky. It has Christmas bells on it.
@Father Hody Commody:
Its not a retreat. I simply posted that SF will never say that the means were not justified which is in relation to the specific point in the article which says “We need to hear a united message from across the community that such actions have never been justified and they will never be successful.”
How come simple English is so challenging for some people to understand
@Nick Allen: “The article is not about SF…” then why mention them?
@Tweed Cap:
Can you actually point out any inaccuracies in what I am saying or show where I am not making a comment in relation something in the article. Other than posting unfounded accusations can you come up with any type of comment that has any level of intelligence or debate or is that completely beyond you?
@Nick Allen: go to bed! Your embarrassing yourself!
@TonySuperSaints:
Did you read the comments or the actual article. Maybe try doing that before posting
@Nick Allen: Did you read the article? Or maybe there is more than one Nick Allen posting because you are the one who said “The article is not about SF…” I asked then, why mention them?
@TonySuperSaints:
If you read the comments as suggested you would have discovers why but I️ will explain it again for you. Towards the end of the article it calls for all members of the community to say that it is and always has been an unjustified action. I️ am sure you will agree that SF are a very important group which is a member of the community. I️ am highlighting that SF will never say that this type of action is and always was unjustified. I️ backed this statement up with the story about the Birmingham bombings as SF still claim the pubs were legitimate targets. So although the article is not about SF it does reference them as a part of the community. I️ trust that clears it up for you.
@Nick Allen: mighty straw clutching there.
@Nick Allen:
“SF will never say such actions are not justified.” (Nick Allen)
“Can you actually point out any inaccuracies in what I am saying” (Nick Allen)
@Nick Allen:
I can post up a list as long as your arm of SF condemning dissident attacks (assuming that’s what you meant when you referred to “such actions”). But if its the specific phrase “not justified” you want then…
@Nick Allen:
‘Sinn Fein South Down MLA, Caitriona Ruane, said those responsible were “attempting to carry out an unjustified campaign of violence”.’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10902438
‘In a statement on Tuesday, Sinn Féin said it believed his killing was “wrong and unjustifiable”‘
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37352016
@Nick Allen:
‘There is no justification for dissidents’ activities of these gangs says Sinn Féin’
http://www.irishnews.com/news/2014/10/30/news/there-is-no-justification-for-dissidents-activities-of-these-gangs-says-sinn-fe-in-106649/
Shall I keep going?
@Nick Allen:
http://irishecho.com/2011/04/sinn-feins-sheehan-condemns-dissident-violence/
“Unfortunately there are others out there who will continue to justify the use of force – they can’t justify it,” (Pat Sheehan speech condemning dissident groups)
@Nick Allen:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/grow-up-sinn-fein-man-tells-dissidents-1-7326556
‘There is no justification for these actions’ (Oliver McMullan, SF)
@Nick Allen:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/adams-condemns-dissidents-over-bomb-500607.html?utm_source=link&utm_medium=click&utm_campaign=nextandprev
‘There is no excuse, justification or explanation’ (Gerry Adams)
@Nick Allen:
https://www.irishnews.com/news/2017/10/31/news/new-dissident-group-claims-it-left-device-in-west-belfast-1175546/
‘Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn last night condemned those responsible for the alert. “They have no regard whatsoever for the local community,” she said. “There can be no justification for this type of activity and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact the police.”’
@Nick Allen:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/13/belfast-couple-shot-in-legs-while-protecting-son-paramilitaries
‘Sinn Féin’s west Belfast assembly member, Pat Sheehan, condemned the shooting…”whatever the motivation for this shooting, there is absolutely no justification for it,”’
Vile “republican” terrorists unfortunately remain a permanent feature of this country
@For Connolly: the area this happened in is actually a very Protestant area which leads to belief that this is a loyalist story not a republican story. Please stop being “wee todded”.
@For Connolly: As do loyalists and an Irish government that will do as much as it can to return the North to the state it was in 25 years ago.
B€€€ards should be publicly hung if caught, send out a warning to any other fools that think they are “hard men”
Slightly off the point but is ‘commuuunity’ or ‘davastaytan’ the only f’in words northies know? Never met 1 that did not either of these words in any conversation
@John Barnes: just like ” stooreee bud”is the only thing dub’s say or” top o the morning ” for all Irish people.
@Leadóg: never heard an Irish person say top o the morning
@John Barnes: “sityaation ” …
@Ryan: the sityaation hare in thas cammuunaty is devastaytan
Very sad
Thanks monoculturalism
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