On Wednesday, the Philae lander touches the surface of a comet … – News 24

is approaching a historic moment. Rosetta, which for 10 years follows the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko will crown its mission. On Wednesday, the Philae lander touches the surface of a comet.
 

On Wednesday, at the mouth of the scientific world will be Rosetta, which for 10 years tends to comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This day is to be a rear lander Philae on a comet. This is the first such attempt in history.

Once begun in 2004. Rosetta mission leads the European Space Agency (ESA).

Although previously missions to comets – as recalled in an interview with PAP Charles Wojcicki Copernicus Science Center – never managed to put on the surface of the comet and the test equipment to conduct research there.

Philae landing maneuver will start on November 12

“Scientists So waiting for a new challenge of landing on an object in the solar system, which have not tried to land, “- he stressed.

If all goes according to plan, the landing maneuver begins on November 12 at. 9.35 Polish time release by the probe Rosetta lander Philae. Then the probe moves away from the comet and adjust accordingly to maintain communication with the lander. After about seven hours, or approximately 17.00 Polish time on Earth should get a confirmation landing.

Philae will land in an area designated in advance by the researchers, called “Agilkia”. This term – derived from the name of the island on the Nile in Egypt in southern Egypt – ESA has selected in the competition, which attracted more than 8 thousand. suggestions of names from 135 countries.

“The lander Philae, which settles on the surface of the comet, will be attached to it and will run until it is sufficient electricity from solar panels. Over the next few months on a comet will be going on a very interesting thing, because it is slowly coming to the sun and becomes active. Already Rosetta ejections observed gas streams from the comet, which we then see as beautiful tail extending in the sky “- described by Charles Wojcicki.

Participation in the Rosetta mission are also Poles

Along with the lander on the comet’s surface, there will also be MUPUS instrument developed by scientists at the Space Research Centre. After landing on a comet pockets in the surface and will include the studied temperature. On the other hand, the film popularizing knowledge of the Rosetta mission, on behalf of ESA, completed Tomek Baginski, director of animated films, including the Oscar-nominated “Cathedral”.

Read also: Final Rosetta mission ever closer

However, there is still a few moments where the ESA may decide to withhold landing. This can occur on November 11, after receiving confirmation that the probe orbit parameters, and the next day – depending on the condition of the send commands to the lander. The two hours before the separation of Philae, the Rosetta will have to perform the maneuver correction, so that the lander was on the right course. The moment that occurs after this maneuver is the last chance to halt the mission.

“The scientists approaching such tasks do not put yourself in advance of assumptions. The probe, which will be on the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, will conduct a series of experiments that will examine the interior of the comet chemical composition of the regolith. However, what is on it discovers will prove over time “- explained Wojcicki.

He added that surely scholars want to understand how comets are built. “They were in the early days of the solar system and is largely composed of water ice. Some say that the water we have on Earth, come from comets. The study of such water may help us to better understand the origins of our planet. Scientists also curious whether if the comets came to Earth the water, whether it could also come into force in the form of simple organic compounds “- PAP caller said.

The Rosetta probe its mission began in 2004. Then fired it into space. With hibernation wybudzono it in January. after 957 days of traveling in the direction of the comet. From that moment already done a lot of tasks. How informed the ESA, the two first images of the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko poll done in March. In mid-October photographed a group of rocks on the surface of the comet, and the largest of them was called “Cheops”. With the probe, the researchers found, too, that the comet releases water into space at a rate equal to two glasses of a second.