Brussels, 13/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - Although the Philae lander's unstable position on Comet 67P continues to create concern, Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska welcomed the fact that the Rosetta mission had indeed managed to land its robot.
Europe pleased. On Thursday 13 November, the Commissioner responsible for the EU's space policy welcomed this unprecedented event, which constitutes the effective landing of the Philae lander, after leaving the Rosetta space probe that has been in orbit for the past ten years. Bienkowska congratulated the European Space Agency and the member states that participated in the successful mission. She described the Rosetta mission (total cost €1.3 billion) as, “an immense step in space science and space exploration”. She added that “the EU attaches the greatest importance to space science and exploration as it lays down the foundations for further space activities from where ever deeper scientific knowledge as well as concrete benefits for citizens are derived”.
Uncertainties about uneven positioning. Bienkowska is now awaiting further details from ESA regarding the situation and the next stages the Philae lander will undergo. Although the lander has indeed landed on the comet as planned, the one cubic metre module was in an uneven position after having jumped, according to a report by AFP. The harpoons used to effectuate the landing were not correctly deployed. Nonetheless, the rest of the lander is responding well and functioning, so that the first photographs and data from the comet have been able to be sent out. The concern about the positioning, however, could have a negative impact. Philae is currently positioned on a small incline on the comet, which could compromise its energy supplies from the solar panels and slow up its activities. Without being correctly positioned, Philae will not be able to proceed to an exploration of the comet over the next few days or therefore take samples from its core and which were expected to provide invaluable information to scientists in their calculations of the origins of the solar system.
The uncertainties surrounding the positioning of Philae also bring to mind the recent event involving the two Galileo satellites launched at the end of August (EUROPE 11145). (MD with AFP)