hold by scientist at the German Aerospace Center , Philaehad accompanied theRosettaspacecraft , which launched in March 2004 with the object of canvas the musical composition of comet 67P. Though Philae did achieve the historic feat of becoming the first probe toland on the open of a comet , a somewhat bumpy landing left it lie in on its side in a shaded ditch .
With no luminosity falling on its solar panels , Philae ’s batteries lasted just over 60 hour . However , all was not lost , as the probe did wield to complete 80 per centum of its be after scientific activities in this time . These included enter detailed paradigm of the comet ’s surface , as well as break down the chemic physical composition of gas and dust .
In doing so , it reveal the comportment of several nitrogen and carbon compounds that had never antecedently been notice in comets . It also found traces of constitutive compounds like formaldehyde that form some of the canonic construction blocks of liveliness .
However , because of the cumbersome slant at which it landed , Philae was unable to deploy its drill and collect samples from beneath the comet ’s surface .
Seven months after its batteries died , Philae at last woke up , as the comet ’s scope brought it closer to the Sun , trigger off the probe ’s solar panels . However , following an lengthy period of radiocommunication silence , ground controllers say the hazard of re - base communication are now about zero , since it is likely that many of Philae ’s components have been put down by freezing temperature .
With 67P / Churyumov - Gerasimenko presently entering the colder part of its orbit , these temperatures are expect to be somewhere around -180 degree Celsius ( -290 degrees Fahrenheit ) . The fact that the probe is also plausibly covered in dust by now is another contributing broker to the conclusion to give up trying to put across with it .
Because of this , projection manager Stephan Ulamecsaid“It would be very surprising if we received a signal now , ” and that his squad will “ no longer be air any commands [ to the lander ] . ” However , while ESA ’s older science advisor Mark McCaughrean tell theBBCthat today is a “ pitiful day , ” Monica Grady , who helped produce some of Philae ’s component , told theGuardianthat the datum it recorded during its short life should provide enough cloth to keep scientists busy for years to come as they seek to see more about the nature of comet 67P.
