The comet 67 / P Churyumov-Gerasimenko is hard as ice and has organic molecules, which are yet to be identified analyzed. The drill lander “Philae” unable to deepen the surface hardness.
These are the first results of scientific experiments “Philae” module, which landed Wednesday on the comet’s surface to study. The European Space Agency (ESA) mission reported that the mother of the probe “Rosetta” continues after the landing of small laboratory “Philae” that from Saturday 15 is at rest because not getting enough sunlight to charge their solar panels.
But the battery was carrying, with autonomy for two days, let him make some important discoveries with its ten instruments at a distance of 511 million kilometers, the ESA said.
“Philae” worked more than 60 hours without interruption and the data sent to “Rosetta” in every possible media. For scientists, the surface of the comet 67 / P Churyumov-Gerasimenko is very different from what they thought so far.
The thermal probe “MUPUS” could not hammer the comet’s surface due to its hardness.
“Although the power of the hammer was gradually increased, it could not lead to soil depth,” Prof. Tilman Spohn Institute of Planetary Research of the German Center for Aeronautics and Space said.
The drill SD2, the last of the ten instruments were activated, tested the soil and found the first organic molecules, which are still studied.
“Rosetta”, which will accompany the comet until the end of next year as it approaches the Sun, provides 80% of the science, “Philae” will cover the remaining 20%.
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