European scientists make space history by successfully landing probe on a comet!

DARMSTADT, Germany (PNN) - November 12, 2014 - Scientists have landed a probe on a comet's surface for the first time in history. After a daring seven-hour descent, and despite problems with its thrusters, the Rosetta craft's probe, Philae, touched down on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

However, controllers have revealed that because harpoons that were supposed to tether it to the surface had not fired, the lander may have actually bounced, effectively landing twice - and leaving it attached only by screws on its legs.

“It's complicated to land on a comet, and complicated to understand what has happened during this landing,” said Dr. Stefan Ulamec, Philae Lander Manager. “The good news is we touched down, we had a clear signal and received data. The not so good news is that the anchoring harpoons did not fire. We looked into the data, and we don't fully understand what has happened. We had fluctuations in the radio link, but it always came back again. Some of the details indicate the lander may have lifted off again, it is bouncing.”

In an emotional speech, ESA director general Jean-Jacques Dordain said, “It's a big step for human civilization.”

Scientists hope data from the probe will help reveal how the solar system was first created 4.5 billion years ago.

The confirmation of the landing was relayed via Rosetta to Earth and picked up by ground stations in Malargüe, Argentina and Madrid, Spain, before being confirmed in Darmstadt. "ESA and its Rosetta mission partners achieved something extraordinary today,” said Dordain. “Our ambitious Rosetta mission has secured another place in the history books: not only is it the first to rendezvous with and orbit a comet, but it is now also the first to deliver a probe to a comet's surface.”

“After more than 10 years traveling through space, we're now making the best ever scientific analysis of one of the oldest remnants of our solar system,” added Alvaro Giménez, ESA's director of Science and Robotic Exploration.

The surface was much softer than they expected, so there were some concerns that the probe was not securely fixed on the comet - although from a software point of view things seemed to be fine.

Engineers will attempt to fire the anchors again soon in order to keep Philae attached to the surface of the comet.

After a four billion mile (6.5 billion km) journey, the probe successfully released Philae from its grip to land on the comet, traveling at 1 meter (40 inches) per second.

“We are extremely relieved to be safely on the surface of the comet, especially given the extra challenge of the comet's unusual shape and unexpectedly hazardous surface,” said Stephan Ulamec, Philae Lander Manager at the DLR German Aerospace Center. “In the next hours we'll learn exactly where and how we've landed, and we'll start getting as much science as we can from the surface of this fascinating world.”

Engineers were forced to endure a tense wait to discover whether the lander successfully grabbed onto the comet at 3.30pm GMT.

Ahead of the landing, Rosetta captured several images of Philae during its daring mission, using its Osiris camera.

One stunning shot showed the lander's antennae deployed, along with all three lander feet and the Rolis descent camera boom that took the photograph of Rosetta.

Immediately after the image was released, Philae tweeted, “It's me… landing on a comet and feeling good!”

The separation of Philae from Rosetta was confirmed at 9.03am GMT today, and just after 11am GMT mission control in Darmstadt, Germany received a signal confirming the lander was working.

Throughout the day, the lander has transmitted data and images back to Earth.

“Everything looks really, really good,” said Philae lander manager Stephan Ulamec.

The probe landed on the icy surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at a site called Agilkia.