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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'
(25 days later)
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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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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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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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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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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/mpzdidGQSzLIVE 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/mzGFWBqgcRIs 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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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/dO4bxs4LiI80 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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She says they need more contact with Rosetta to plan activity. She says they are drawing up an “operation strategy for long term science”. But they need support of a secondary battery. “We need to wait a bit longer to start our science,” she says.
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“We only got good news” from Philae says Cozzoni with a big smile. The solar panels are collecting energy and performing as expected.
But there’s a but ...
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Barbara Cozzoni, lander control centre engineer, begins her briefing.
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“The key here is to maximise the communication with Philae”, Montagnon says. She explains that Rosetta had to fly through dust generated by the comet to get close. She likens it to driving through a snow storm. She shows dusty photos of the comet taken just a few kilometres away.
If Rosetta gets too close the dust will force it into safety only mode, she says.
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Montagnon gives details of “close fly bys” of the comet conducted in February and March. She also confirms that Rosetta trajectory is being adjusted to get it closer to the comet. This will be reviewed for safety, she says.
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Elsa Montagnon, the agency’s deputy Rosetta flight director, begins her part of the briefing. She underlines the “amazing achievement” of landing the probe on the comet on 12 November.
.@ESA_Rosetta media briefing underway at Le Bourget - latest on the mission incl @Philae2014 http://t.co/KLaB2hBAKt pic.twitter.com/RBwVV0v9lJ
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McCaughrean plays the sound of the probe touching down and shows images of three imprints were it touched down. The mission is not yet over, McCaughrean. “Today the lander is alive,” he said. He says the ESA has funding until the end of this year but it proposing to extend it for another year. The journey “is to be continued,” he says.
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'You can hear the comet'
McCaughrean says “bizarre pits” have been photographs on comet 67P, from Rosetta. Heat is coming off the comet even during the dark he says. “You can even hear the comet,” he says. A tapping croaking sound is played.
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The briefing is underway with some opening words from Mark McCaughrean, senior scientist at the ESA. He describes comets as “treasure troves” for science.
You can follow the briefing here.
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Welcome to live coverage of a press conference by the European Space Agency on the Philae probe after it surprised scientists by sending messages to the Rosetta orbiter.
Ahead of the briefing the agency said there had been no contact with the probe since the weekend.
Elsa Montagnon, the agency’s deputy Rosetta flight director, confirmed that there was contact for 85 seconds on Saturday night. The comet then made one revolution in which there was no contact, but then a further three ten second bursts were received on Sunday evening
Since then there has been nothing, Montagnon said.
“At the moment we are excited rather than disappointed,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We need to understand and find a way to characterise the contact patterns to continue working,” she said.
Asked whether she was certain further contact would be made, she said: “We are working in that direction. On Monday morning there was a meeting of the operation team to optimise the Rosetta trajectory to try to repeat the contacts again.”
In a blog post the agency said the lack of contact since the weekend was “expected”.
It also gave details of how the orbiter’s trajectory has been changed to “optimise the opportunities for lander-to-orbiter communication”.
This includes a change to nadir pointing (that is, pointing directly at the comet nucleus) during the daily communication slots, which will come into effect Wednesday morning, in line with the new trajectory change.
Rosetta’s science investigations will also be adjusted to adapt to the new trajectory.
Commands to adjust the trajectory were successfully uploaded Monday evening; further commands will be uplinked on Thursday evening. The spacecraft will perform two manoeuvres, one on Wednesday morning and the second on Saturday morning. The effect of the two ‘dog-leg’ burns will be to bring the orbiter to a distance of 180 km from the comet and to reproduce the orbiter-comet geometry of the first contact.
This orbit lowering had been planned previously with the objective of flying as low as safely possible, since no star tracker problems have been detected while flying in the terminator plane at 200 km altitude. But now it also has the advantage of improving communication possibilities with Philae.
This morning, 16 June, the spacecraft was at about 224 km and moving out to about 235 km from the comet on its pre-planned trajectory. When Philae’s signal was first received on 13 June the spacecraft-comet separation was 200 km; by 14 June this was 206 km and the signal was weaker.
It is only once the orbiter is on the new trajectory, flying closer to the comet with nadir pointing in the latitudes of the lander that the communication possibilities will be improved.
The probe made contact with agency for the first time in seven months on Saturday which the agency announced in a series of whimsical messages on Philae lander and Rosetta mission’s Twitter accounts.
Hello @ESA_Rosetta! I'm awake! How long have I been asleep? #Lifeonacomet
The agency said on Sunday that it had received signals from the lander when it began “speaking” with its team on the ground for the first time since it went into emergency hibernation following a botched landing on the comet in November. It is thought that more power became available to the probe from its solar panels when the comet got closer to the Sun.
On Sunday’ Philae’s project manager Dr Stephan Ulamec confidently announced: “The lander is ready for operations”.
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