First spacecraft landing on a comet

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First spacecraft landing on a comet

Postby ys » Wed Nov 12, 2014 8:11 pm


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... t-67P.html

After a journey of 10 years ESA managed to land a spacecraft on a comet. Not too easy considering its small size and speed of 135000 km/h. Apparently it's a technological feat since they had to land at walking speed due to the low gravity which constantly changed since the object is so irregular.
It's not sure though if harpoons managed to attach it to the ground. Considering that it only takes 1m/s to escape the surface they are quite nervous. I checked quickly and gravity might be tens of thousands of times weaker than here. The spacecraft's weight over there is maybe a few grams.

The plan is to stick around and watch what happens when it gets closer to the sun. As well as checking what it's made of since comets could be the ones who brought water and some organic material to earth.

This image put the comet's small size in perspective though next to LA :
Image
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Re: First spacecraft landing on a comet

Postby NewMyles » Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:02 pm

I did hear about this, it's quite impressive that they accomplished that and after 10 years. Gotta love space.
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Re: First spacecraft landing on a comet

Postby ys » Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:08 pm

I saw someone remark that it's a step forward for landing techniques too. They were discussing the importance of it when it comes to (far) future space colonization.
It appears to be stuck in a cave now in partial darkness : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... -side.html
Without sunlight things get a little difficult.

It thought that it looked weird though. Approaching the landing site :
Image

I liked the "selfie" at 16 km with the comet in the background :
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Re: First spacecraft landing on a comet

Postby shengoro86 » Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:50 pm

this is soo cool! :)
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