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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/live/2015/jun/17/philae-probe-european-space-agencys-briefing-live-updates
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Philae probe: Rosetta scientists says lander's material is 'amazingly exciting' | Philae probe: Rosetta scientists says lander's material is 'amazingly exciting' |
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The briefing is wound up by a spokesman for the agency, who says: “Expect the unexpected.” | The briefing is wound up by a spokesman for the agency, who says: “Expect the unexpected.” |
That’s it for now. There’ll be a story soon. | That’s it for now. There’ll be a story soon. |
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at 10.03am BST | at 10.03am BST |
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Bibring says the agency may decide to rotate the lander by a few degrees. But a decision will come later as the operation is so risky. First the scientists will try to analyse the data they have obtained already. | Bibring says the agency may decide to rotate the lander by a few degrees. But a decision will come later as the operation is so risky. First the scientists will try to analyse the data they have obtained already. |
Gaudon points out that the lander was rotated by around 20 degrees in November. | Gaudon points out that the lander was rotated by around 20 degrees in November. |
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at 11.20am BST | at 11.20am BST |
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We’ve moved onto questions now. Bibring says the fact that the probe has 25 Watts of power shows its panels are not coated in dust. | We’ve moved onto questions now. Bibring says the fact that the probe has 25 Watts of power shows its panels are not coated in dust. |
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Ice has been discovered on the 4km-wide comet, Bibring reveals. Collectively we are where we wanted to be, he says. He says the scientists are hoping to establish contact for tens of minutes, rather than tens of seconds, with the probe. | Ice has been discovered on the 4km-wide comet, Bibring reveals. Collectively we are where we wanted to be, he says. He says the scientists are hoping to establish contact for tens of minutes, rather than tens of seconds, with the probe. |
“If it is dream I would prefer not to wake up,” Bibring says. | “If it is dream I would prefer not to wake up,” Bibring says. |
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at 11.21am BST | at 11.21am BST |
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Comets are not the dirty ice bodies imagined at the start of the project, Bibring says. The results on the volatile material discovered will be released in peer-review journals in the coming weeks. Now that the probe has woken up there is a possibility to measure the composition of the material, Bibring says. | Comets are not the dirty ice bodies imagined at the start of the project, Bibring says. The results on the volatile material discovered will be released in peer-review journals in the coming weeks. Now that the probe has woken up there is a possibility to measure the composition of the material, Bibring says. |
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at 11.21am BST | at 11.21am BST |
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You can also follow the briefing on Periscope. | You can also follow the briefing on Periscope. |
LIVE on #Periscope: J-P Bibring on @ESA_Rosetta & @Philae2014 at #SpaceBourget https://t.co/mpzdidGQSz | LIVE on #Periscope: J-P Bibring on @ESA_Rosetta & @Philae2014 at #SpaceBourget https://t.co/mpzdidGQSz |
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The material from the lander is “amazingly exciting” because the comet contains material that modelled the solar system, Bibring says. The comets are probably the way to tell us how the solar system was formed, he says. He says scientists don’t know whether the comet’s shape was the result of a collision or it being pulled apart. | The material from the lander is “amazingly exciting” because the comet contains material that modelled the solar system, Bibring says. The comets are probably the way to tell us how the solar system was formed, he says. He says scientists don’t know whether the comet’s shape was the result of a collision or it being pulled apart. |
Is the comet a result of the cosmic meging of two objects or on the contrary it is being divided in two parts? pic.twitter.com/mzGFWBqgcR | Is the comet a result of the cosmic meging of two objects or on the contrary it is being divided in two parts? pic.twitter.com/mzGFWBqgcR |
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Bibring explains that the scientific challenge is to establish whether the recordings from the comet are specific or generic. | Bibring explains that the scientific challenge is to establish whether the recordings from the comet are specific or generic. |
Even Philae’s botched landing provided valuable information, Bibring says. He says the reawakening shows the probe survived temperatures of minus 150 degrees. Thanks to where the probe landed under the “Perihelion cliff” it did not overheat, he says. | Even Philae’s botched landing provided valuable information, Bibring says. He says the reawakening shows the probe survived temperatures of minus 150 degrees. Thanks to where the probe landed under the “Perihelion cliff” it did not overheat, he says. |
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Bibring says the mission is already a success because it has been so unexpected and challenged existing paradigms. We needed Philae to wake up, the dream is still there, he said. The mission could now go beyond expectations, Bibring boasts. | Bibring says the mission is already a success because it has been so unexpected and challenged existing paradigms. We needed Philae to wake up, the dream is still there, he said. The mission could now go beyond expectations, Bibring boasts. |
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Finally Einstein look-a-like, Jean-Pierre Bibring from IAS Orsay the lead scientist on the project, begins his briefing. He says Rosetta represents a major step in our understanding of why we are here. | Finally Einstein look-a-like, Jean-Pierre Bibring from IAS Orsay the lead scientist on the project, begins his briefing. He says Rosetta represents a major step in our understanding of why we are here. |
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at 11.23am BST | at 11.23am BST |
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Eight instruments on the probe “did science”, Gaudon says. We consider that we have achieved 80% of what we intended, he says. On the location of the lander, he says it was found between large boulders. He shows unconvincing pictures of a rocky surface with a red arrow marking the spot. | Eight instruments on the probe “did science”, Gaudon says. We consider that we have achieved 80% of what we intended, he says. On the location of the lander, he says it was found between large boulders. He shows unconvincing pictures of a rocky surface with a red arrow marking the spot. |
The probe should have landed on the north where 9 hours of sun would have been available. Instead it landed on the south, when the best available energy will be in August when the longest days are due. The best time for the lander will be August, because we will be closest to the sun. “So the situation is improving,” Gaudon says. He describes the lander waking up as “good luck”. | The probe should have landed on the north where 9 hours of sun would have been available. Instead it landed on the south, when the best available energy will be in August when the longest days are due. The best time for the lander will be August, because we will be closest to the sun. “So the situation is improving,” Gaudon says. He describes the lander waking up as “good luck”. |
80 percent of the objectives of the FSS of @Philae2014 achieved. #SpaceBourget pic.twitter.com/dO4bxs4LiI | 80 percent of the objectives of the FSS of @Philae2014 achieved. #SpaceBourget pic.twitter.com/dO4bxs4LiI |
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Next up is Philippe Gaudon, Philae project manager. He says the fact that the probe landed on its side meant “we were obliged to change the operation.” At first we decided to do “safe blocks” by operating instruments that don’t move, he explained. Later more risks were taken, including a drilling operation. “Unfortunately we didn’t manage to take a sample of the soil,” he says with a shrug. | Next up is Philippe Gaudon, Philae project manager. He says the fact that the probe landed on its side meant “we were obliged to change the operation.” At first we decided to do “safe blocks” by operating instruments that don’t move, he explained. Later more risks were taken, including a drilling operation. “Unfortunately we didn’t manage to take a sample of the soil,” he says with a shrug. |
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We don’t necessarily need daily links with the comet, Cozzoni says. Information can be downloaded for several days at a time. More complex and “power demanding” science will depend on how Philae performs and this secondary battery. | We don’t necessarily need daily links with the comet, Cozzoni says. Information can be downloaded for several days at a time. More complex and “power demanding” science will depend on how Philae performs and this secondary battery. |
“That’s it, Philae is back and we are all very happy,” Cozzoni concludes on a cheery note. | “That’s it, Philae is back and we are all very happy,” Cozzoni concludes on a cheery note. |
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at 11.25am BST | at 11.25am BST |