00:42Germany: Philae lander separates from Rosetta in "sexiest mission ever"
Expressions of relief broke out at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt on Wednesday after the European Space Agency's Philae probe successfully separated from the Rosetta spacecraft.
The 100 kg (15 stone) probe will land on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which is currently moving at around 135,000 kmph (83,885 mph) and flying at 42.78 Astronomical Units (64 billion km) from the Earth. Philae's instruments will be taking measurements of the local environment and the magentic field during its descent.
The Rosetta spacecraft was launched from Kourou on March 2, 2004, from an Ariane 5G+ rocket. By examining the comet the ESA hopes to learn about the early solar system, possibly edging closer to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe.
00:42Expressions of relief broke out at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt on Wednesday after the European Space Agency's Philae probe successfully separated from the Rosetta spacecraft.
The 100 kg (15 stone) probe will land on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which is currently moving at around 135,000 kmph (83,885 mph) and flying at 42.78 Astronomical Units (64 billion km) from the Earth. Philae's instruments will be taking measurements of the local environment and the magentic field during its descent.
The Rosetta spacecraft was launched from Kourou on March 2, 2004, from an Ariane 5G+ rocket. By examining the comet the ESA hopes to learn about the early solar system, possibly edging closer to answering the question of whether we are alone in the universe.