The ‘Philae’ probe exhausted their batteries, but has sent the data … – HOME

The probe ‘Philae’ on 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. / that

“Before falling silent, the probe was able to transmit all data acquired during the first sequence called science. This machine has worked very well in harsh conditions and can be very proud of the amazing scientific success that the Philae has generated, “said Stefan Ulamec, the head of the space probe that landed this week in an operation rugged in the floor of the comet 67P / Churyomov-Gerasimenko. But the robot batteries seem to be practically exhausted to keep going … for now.

Last night was intense in the control center of Philae in the space agency German DLR in Cologne. Just after 11 pm (CET Spanish), came the signal from the probe. First it was unstable, but then recovered ongoing communication and began downloading data acquired with the scientific instruments aboard and robot systems. It was the scheduled time, since contact with Philae is done via ship Rosetta in orbit of the comet, and there are times when it is not in visibility from Earth. But when he finished the previous phase signal reception was not known whether he had met the scientific analysis and even if they were to take the enough battery time to send the data.

The contact ended at 1.36 this dawn, “not long before the time would have been lost anyway to hide ship Rosetta over the horizon,” the blog of the operators of the mission. With dead batteries, experts do not expect to receive the signal again, but an hour before noon today there is a new phase of communication with Rosetta and drivers continue to listen, just in case .

The data downloaded during the night have been greeted with euphoria by operators and scientists. “The drill worked perfectly and the results are fantastic,” says email, Lawrence O’Rourke, a systems engineer from the European Space Agency (ESA) from the control room at DLR. “The atmosphere here is jubilant.” The device drill to drill into the floor of the comet and take samples for analysis in situ was activated yesterday, but had not received the results before communication stopped Friday morning. O’Rourke confirmed this morning that it has received data from analysis of soil samples. “The results are fantastic,” he announces. All information is being processed.

In addition, operators have had time tonight, while communicating with the probe, sending commands to rotate, with the intention of increasing their exposure to the sun panels lots.

The main problem encountered by the Philae from the crash landing on the comet’s last Wednesday, after bouncing twice on the ground, landed a place with steep relief around, shadowing on the solar panels. The machine was set up to work for two days and a half with the batteries charged and enforce wearing the first sequence called science. This has been done and have successfully activated the ten scientific instruments onboard. But after the first 60 hours, to continue operating on the surface of the comet, the spacecraft had to recharge their batteries with solar panels. The poor lighting in the place where it is located has frustrated this extension.

But scientists and operators have not been given before this unexpected. As Philae can rotate on itself without moving the site tonight have sent orders to revolve, in order to better expose their larger panel at the sun and increase the chances of recharge batteries. Went well: “We have another image of the surface under the probe after rotation of 35 degrees, also bringing the probe a bit, and have confirmed that it has worked,” O’Rourke said. The aim of the operation is that when the comet (with the Philae on the floor and Rosetta around) is closer to the sun, increase lighting panels and allows the robot to wake again.

With the stock primary batteries, the probe has been ordered to be in hibernation, with all the scientific instruments and off most of its onboard systems disconnected. Therefore it is possible that wakes up if they start charging the batteries with the increased exposure of solar panels. “Having to do the rotation tonight, the probe has great potential to work again in a few months, as we approach the Sun,” O’Rourke said. Meanwhile, the ship Rosetta , in perfect working order, in addition to being aware of the probe on the surface of 67P / Chyriamov-Gerasimenko, continues his scientific mission to observe the comet as it approaches the Sun. . is expected to continue operating at least until the end of 2016 and quite possibly a year.

“It was a dream … the whole team, engineers and scientists are celebrating. The mission of Rosetta continues, of course, and no possibility of Philae wake up in the future. A fabulous mission, “O’Rourke wrote early this morning.