Relief at the Esa: The space probe “Philae” is now apparently stable on the comet Tschuri. As evidence the laboratory has the first photos of its new location returned to Earth.

One day after the spectacular landing on a comet, the European Space Agency ESA has received on Thursday morning again contact the lander “Philae”. The position of the laboratory seems to be quite stable despite derProbleme on landing. This was announced by the Esa on Thursday in Darmstadt. Sensor data had shown that “Philae” have not once, but consecutively placed three times – at 16:33, 17:26 and 17.33 clock German time. Now further evidence has arrived that “Philae” is sure: The probe has sparked the first image data to Earth.

During the night there had been a forced break, as the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the spacecraft and “Rosetta” moving in a wireless coverage area. The seated on Tschuri laboratory “Philae” may thus not always have contact with the probe, signals are sent from the ground of the.
For the first time in the history of space exploration, the landing was successful on a comet on Wednesday. When putting there were difficulties. Two harpoons to anchor “Philae” on Tschuri were not triggered, a nozzle for pressurization of the laboratory on the comet did not work.

The head of Esa-flight operation in the satellite control center in Darmstadt Esoc, Paolo Ferri, went on Thursday but assume that “Philae” will still remain on the comet. The inspectors had expected on Wednesday evening that the lab took off again after the first touchdown, but landed again.

In the first few hours after landing an important data could be collected, Ferri said. In addition to photos, it is about managed to start the project tomography “Consert”. Here, illuminate “Philae” and “Rosetta” comet in teamwork.

Scientists hope after landing at a glance in the nursery of the solar system, the originated 4.6 billion years ago. Comets should contain largely unaltered matter from that time – they are regarded as messengers of the past. “Rosetta” and “Philae” together have approximately 20 instruments on board to take Tschuri under the microscope.

“Rosetta” put in the past ten years back about 6.5 billion kilometers in space. The probe was launched with “Philae” on board on 2 March 2004 by an Ariane-5 rocket from the space station in Kourou, French Guiana in South America. The mission is scheduled to last until the end of 2015. “Philae” but will probably stop working earlier.

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