ESAHangout: Preparing for Rosetta's grand finale

ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft is set to complete its incredible mission in a controlled descent to the surface of Comet 67P/C-G on 30 September. Mission experts joined an ESA Hangout on 19 September to discuss Rosetta’s final days and hours of operation, including expectations for the images and other scientific data that will be collected as the spacecraft gets closer and closer to the surface. They also discuss the exciting discovery of Philae that was made earlier this month. 

Hangout guests:
Andrea Accomazzo, Flight operations director 
Sylvain Lodiot, Rosetta spacecraft operations manager
Claire Vallat or Richard Moissl (TBC), Rosetta science ground segment liaison scientist 
Laurence O’Rourke, Rosetta downlink science operations manager (lander search coordinator) 

Moderated by Emily Baldwin, Space Science Editor.

[SPACETVnet]

One of the most inspirational missions of my lifetime. 1, 000, 000, 000 thanks to everyone at the ESA and elsewhere who made this happen.

[VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

RIP Rosetta. Thanks for giving it your all!

[grumpbert]

Love you guys! So proud of all that you have achieved. :D

[gmtrainer]

What did you determine the root cause to be of the unexpected faltering of Philaes landing? Im assuming it was that the landing gear was designed for a different type of surface than what was encountered. That alone I believe will inspire new more universal landing designs. Great Mission anyway! Thank you!

[Thesorrow]

Congratulation ESA and all of you how made it posssible ! I have a question ! Can't you land rosetta once (do all the science needed) then rise here again for a short drive to another science region ? Is that thechnicaly possible is there enouth propellan in her ? aren we aiming for space challenge once again ?

[mikeomolt]

Was the ESA team able to retrieve all photographic image data from Philae throughout it's decent and bounce across the comet surface?