Although Philae energy is depleted main battery, the probe was able to ‘smell’ the atmosphere of comet 67P and detect various organic molecules. Furthermore, the bore of the tube has proven soil strength is higher than it was thought, and that under the lander under icy water. The mission team expects to be able to regain contact as soon as you get Philae recharge the batteries.
The properties of the surface 67P speak very different than they thought. The Philae lander drilling has revealed that the comet is hard as ice, and she could not fathom. In addition, the instrumental was able to ‘smell’ the air and detecting the first organic molecules after landing
“Although the power of the drill was gradually increased, we were unable to deepen the surface, “says Tilman Spohn, Institute of Planetary Research of the German space agency (DLR), led the research team. With MUPUS instrument (multiple use sensors for surface and subsurface investigation) has been possible to directly study the resistance of the surface of a comet first. “We have acquired a large amount of data, we now have to analyze,” Spohn said.
On the other hand, the computer experiment SESAME (Surface Electrical, Seismic and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment) You can confirm that Churyumov-Gerasimenko is not as fluffy as it was believed. “The strength of the ice under a layer of dust on the first landing is surprisingly high,” says Klaus Seidensticker DLR Institute of Planetary Research. Two other instruments SESAME reveal the presence of a large amount of water ice under the lander.
It is true that the drill was activated, as are all the steps for transport of the sample to the appropriate oven. Now scientists have to analyze the data to determine if a soil sample actually considered in the gas chromatograph. The instrument was able to ‘smell’ the air and detecting the first organic molecules after landing. The analysis of spectra and identification of molecules continue
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One of the more fortunate with the landing of Philae is Stefano Mottola, the DLR Institute of Planetary Research, which is responsible for the camera Rolis (Rosetta Lander Imaging System) images acquired during the first descent. Even after the third landing was achieved Rolis reactivate and acquire images of the surface of the comet at close range. Thus, the computer has data for two different locations on the comet.
A large amount of data was also obtained with the instrument CONSERT (Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radio Wave Transmission ). To accomplish this, the lander and orbiter were on different sides of the kite and worked together to analyze the core radio signals through it and create a three-dimensional profile of the core. During measurements, Philae went into hibernation after the main battery power ran out.
sure the contact is resumed
“I’m pretty sure Philae resume contact us and we will be able to operate the instruments again,” says Project Manager at DLR Stephan Ulamec . Once the secondary rechargeable battery is heated by sunlight again, Philae will restart and the control unit will sit in the control consoles again.
“In the first landing would have had better conditions of solar illumination, “says Ulamec. “Now we’re a little in the shade, we will need more time to load.” One advantage of the darkest landing site in a crater is that the lander Philae will not overheat as fast as the comet approaches the Sun, and will benefit from a less strong sun light. The team managed to turn the lander during the night from 14 to 15 November, so that the largest solar panel is now aligned to the sun.
Stephan Ulamec believed to be probably in the spring of 2015, will communicate again with Philae and receive data. In summer, it might be possible that the temperatures in the comet enable battery recharging. “The orbiter will continue its overflights to receive any signal from the lander Philae, once you wake up from hibernation.
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