Today one of the boldest, most audacious and exacting feats of space engineering will be attempted. The European Space Agency (ESA) will attempt to land Philae, a lander module, from the Rosetta spacecraft onto a comet known as 67P Churyunov.
Rosetta has already made 3 orbits around the sun and is near to completing a fourth.
Currently it is near the orbit of Jupiter and will try to steer its lander, Philae, onto the comet which is estimated to be 4.2 Km across.
Even if it misses, Philae will collect unique data to help our understanding of what goes on is space.
You can follow it live at Live updates: Rosetta mission comet landing / Operations / Our Activities / ESA.
Meanwhile our daily press will continue to inform us who is blowing up whom, who is separating from their partner and which political party might get more votes in a few months’ time.
Just for a short while, let us lift our eyes to the stars and applaud those who made this achievement possible.
I see you too @philae2014! Here you are in my OSIRIS camera – legs out! #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/hmnfe2AkN2
— ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) November 12, 2014
Touchdown! My new address: 67P! #CometLanding
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014
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Thank for your this reminder. It was fascinating watching the excitement on the news this afternoon.
Social Media has played a great role in spreading excitement and joy.
You’re welcome to share more about science (and other topics). You seem to be able to make science less intimidating.