On the brink of the abyss The Philae lander is likely hibernation – Morning Padua

PADUA. The only solution seems to be to reorient Philae with the help of a mechanical arm, Mupus (Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science). The lander would in fact not only dangerously poised on the brink of a crater but also “shadow”. If his position will not be changed as soon as possible will not have enough energy to continue working in the next few days and after a journey into the solar system from six billion kilometers in danger of hibernation, waiting for enough energy to straighten up.

Wednesday Philae, seven hours after being released from the Rosetta probe, was placed on the soil of the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. A new mission in the entire panorama of space companies. But after the excitement, have followed Hour “with bated breath”. Not only does the lander failed to cling perfectly to the surface of the comet (only two out of three harpoons would point on the rock) but according to the first image received from the comet 67 / P is located on the edge of a crater with a single solar panel exposed to light. Keeping these circumstances Philae will not have enough energy to continue working. For this reason, by the time it was decided not to operate the drill Italian designed to pierce the crust of the comet. Meanwhile, ESA engineers plan to straighten the lander through the mechanical arm Mupus. If the attempt fail, it could take the lead for hibernation in this way Philae enter into a sleep, similar to the last three years in a rosette, from which the reawaken the light when his comet approaches the sun. These are scenarios they are working on the heads of the mission, just in the same time as the first pictures taken thanks to the sophisticated optical system made by the team of scientists from Padua are fascinating not only employees in the sector but the entire people of the web in these hours glued to the computer to learn about the latest developments in the mission.

Not at all surprised by what is happening in charge of the mission. “The images sent from the lander Philae show that is ‘alive’, is firm and that all its tools work,” said the operations manager of Philae, Stephan Ulamec, at a press conference organized by ESA in the control center ( ESOC) in Germany, in Darmstadt. The managers then retraced what happened Wednesday at the moment of landing. “It seems that the lander has landed in the center of the ellipse expected, but then he jumped lasted one hour and 50 minutes, rising up to 1 kilometer from the surface and riatterrando in a depression on the head of the comet, with a little more bounce on the edge of a “crater”, in fact it seems that 2 of the 3 legs are resting on the surface while the other is in a vacuum. ” “Anyway, Wednesday was a day that had two important aspects: a great concern for the time between the two operations key (the release of the module Philae and the confirmation of his” landing “). When it came the first sign of detachment there was an incredible feeling. The social, scientific and political aspects of this incredible result will have huge “said C. Barbieri, Department of Physics and Astronomy CISAS.

Serena Gasparoni