Hopes fade for probe that landed on comet
Print Edition
European scientists have given up hope of restoring contact with space probe Philae, which successfully landed on a comet in a pinpoint operation only to lose power because its solar-driven batteries were in the shade.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) said yesterday it suspects Philae is now covered in dust and too cold to operate.
“Unfortunately, the probability of Philae re-establishing contact with our team at the DLR Lander Control Center is almost zero, and we will no longer be sending any commands,” Stephan Ulamec, Philae project manager of the DLR, said in a statement.
Philae came to rest on a comet in November 2014 in what was considered a remarkable feat of precision space travel. But it closed down soon after because it was in the shade and couldn’t be recharged.
The probe woke up in June as the comet approached the sun, giving scientists hope that it might complete some experiments that it had not done before its solar-powered batteries ran out. But it hasn’t made contact with its Rosetta orbiter since July 9, and a last-ditch attempt to re-establish contact with the robotic lab failed.
“It would be very surprising if we received a signal now,” Ulamec said.
While the team believes Philae is likely ice-free, the solar panels that recharge its batteries are probably covered with dust.
Also, temperatures can fall to minus 180 degrees Celsius as comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko moves away from the sun, which is much colder than Philae was designed to withstand.
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