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Lost Philae comet lander has been found

SEP 06, 2016

DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.0210082

Physics Today

BBC : Two years after its rough landing on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the Philae lander has finally been located. In images captured by the Rosetta spacecraft, which brought Philae to the comet, the lander can be seen lying on its side, wedged against a cliff. Philae‘s batteries have died due to lack of sunlight. Although Rosetta had surveyed the area before and failed to see Philae, this time the spacecraft orbited closer to the comet and at a time when the area was better illuminated. The sighting was made just in time, as the Rosetta mission is due to end in a few weeks when the spacecraft makes a planned crash landing on the comet.

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