European Spacecraft Casts Off on Descent to Comet
Update from @Philae2014 science centre: lander workign fine; 1st CIVA images received as well as data from other instruments #CometLanding— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 12, 2014
Livestream at ESA:
A miniature spacecraft cast off from its mother ship Wednesday to start a lonely, nerve-wracking descent to the rugged terrain of a comet.
The European Space Agency’s washing-machine-sized spaceship, named Philae, detached from its carrier just after 3:30 a.m. ET. It faced a seven-hour trip to the comet’s boulder-strewn surface, with no way to steer or turn back.
If it touches down safely, Philae will enter the record books as the first craft to make a safe landing on a comet.
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