The Rosetta Mission Asks – How Do You Land On A Comet?

Right now the Rosetta spacecraft is in the orbit of the comet getting its lander ready for this historic event. Watch and learn how easy or how hard it is to land on a comet because nobody has done it before.

[NASAJPL]

#cometlanding   #67P   #ESA   #NASA  

While ESA's Rosetta mission keeps up science from comet orbit, here's how its Philae probe will attempt to land on Nov. 12.

[rbee]

I will be one of those in the world watching. Best wishes. I like the cooperative aspects of this project. Peace.

[DeathlyTired]

May fortune smile on you tomorrow, Philae.
Safe journey.

[TheStockwell]

Even if the Philae lander doesn't make it, it's been an amazing mission - and Rosetta will still be in the picture. Just seeing what the surface of the comet LOOKS like is an achievement.

A successful landing would be icing on the cake.

[behrad]

Came to see Matt Taylor! YOU ROCK DUDE!

[eidalmazrouei]

Also, I wouldn't be surprised to discover that this comet has lots of copper or matter that can be transformed to copper.

[eidalmazrouei]

I have listened to what was called the mysterious song of the comet. I was scared about the song. I expect that all songs from comets are as scary except the songs that are coming from planets and stars across the universe. Let's find that out first, then I will tell you why it is so.

[onjofilms]

What I'm afraid of is that there will be worms on that thing and those worms will find out from the lander where we live and then they will come back to Earth and bore a hole into our heads.  That keeps me up at night.

[davidjhyatt]

Will the probe be able to get much data from the first few centimeters even though Rosetta has been repeatedly heated by the sun and would have had much of this surface material ejected? Just curious.. Thanks for all you do!

[idjles]

Does Philae have a gyro to prevent rotating while coming down?

[akhilin]

Can we capture and bring a comet into Earth orbit ?

[ylnmurthy]

Now where is that Comet ?  U R getting the Signals ???

[euchale]

There are so many more nice accents in the ESA than in the NASA. I like them both though :)

[SlipKnotRicky]

What I want to know is if a comet really is a "dirty

[eidalmazrouei]

It's unlikely to find water on the comet as that on earth. Earth's water was created from earth. One day you will be certain about this. Then and only then ask me how did I know. My answer to that will pave the way to answer lots of other crucial questions that can't be answers except by missions like Rosseta.
I am a simple man with simple answers for simple questions.