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Rosetta: Comet probe Philae now stable - scientists Rosetta: Comet probe Philae now stable - scientists
(35 minutes later)
The robot probe Philae that made a historic comet landing is now stable after initially failing to attach to the surface, the BBC has learnt. The robot probe Philae that made a historic comet landing is now stable after initially failing to attach to the surface, and is sending pictures.
Pictures are coming back from the craft and there is a stable radio link. Efforts are now being made to locate the precise position of the European Space Agency probe on the comet.
European Space Agency engineers working on the lander say it may have bounced hundreds of metres back up off the surface after first touching down. Engineers say it may have bounced hundreds of metres back off the surface after first touching down.
Scientists hope the probe will analyse the comet's surface to yield insights into the origins of our Solar System.Scientists hope the probe will analyse the comet's surface to yield insights into the origins of our Solar System.
The Esa's Rosetta satellite carried Philae on a 6.4 billion-km (4bn-mile) journey to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.The Esa's Rosetta satellite carried Philae on a 6.4 billion-km (4bn-mile) journey to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
The robot probe, the size of a washing machine, was launched from the satellite on Wednesday and spent seven hours travelling to the comet. The robot probe, the size of a washing machine, was dropped from the satellite on Wednesday and spent seven hours travelling down to the icy body.
News of the first landing was confirmed at about 16:05 GMT on Wednesday. News of the "first" landing was confirmed at about 16:05 GMT.
Ebullient moodEbullient mood
Controllers have now re-established radio communication with the probe and are retrieving pictures from it. Controllers re-established radio communication with the probe on cue on Thursday after a scheduled break, and are retrieving pictures from it.
These show the feet of the lander and the wider cometscape.These show the feet of the lander and the wider cometscape.
There is still concern about the longer-term stability of Philae because it is not properly anchored - the harpoons that should have hooked it into the surface did not fire on contact. But there is still concern about the longer-term stability of Philae because it is not properly anchored - the harpoons that should have hooked it into the surface did not fire on contact. Neither did its feet screws get any purchase.
Mission facts:Mission facts:
Philae landerPhilae lander
Comet 67PComet 67P
Can you land on a comet?Can you land on a comet?
'More black swan than yellow duck''More black swan than yellow duck'
Brief encounters with cometsBrief encounters with comets
Lander project manager Stephan Ulamec told the BBC he was very wary of now commanding them to do so, as this could throw Philae back off the comet again. Lander project manager Stephan Ulamec told the BBC that he was very wary of now commanding the harpoons to fire, as this could throw Philae back off into space.
He also has worries about drilling into the comet because this too could affect the stability of the lander.He also has worries about drilling into the comet because this too could affect the stability of the lander.
"We are still not anchored," he said. "We are still not anchored," he said. "We are sitting with the weight of the lander somehow on the comet. We are pretty sure where we landed the first time, and then we made quite a leap. Some people say it is in the order of 1 km high.
"We are sitting with the weight of the lander somehow on the comet. We are pretty sure where we landed the first time, and then we made quite a leap. Some people say it is in the order of 1 km high.
"And then we had another small leap, and now we are sitting there, and transmitting, and everything else is something we have to start understanding and keep interpreting.""And then we had another small leap, and now we are sitting there, and transmitting, and everything else is something we have to start understanding and keep interpreting."
The BBC's Jonathan Amos at Esa's mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, says the mood this morning is very ebullient following the historic touchdown. The mood at Esa's operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany, this morning is very ebullient following the historic touchdown.
Holger Sierks, the principal investigator of the science cameras on Philae's mothership, Rosetta, which is circling the comet overhead, said his team was now trying to take pictures of the robot on the surface.Holger Sierks, the principal investigator of the science cameras on Philae's mothership, Rosetta, which is circling the comet overhead, said his team was now trying to take pictures of the robot on the surface.
These pictures will show very little detail because Rosetta is many tens of kilometres away, but they will help controllers understand precisely where on the comet the robot has come to rest after its bouncing.These pictures will show very little detail because Rosetta is many tens of kilometres away, but they will help controllers understand precisely where on the comet the robot has come to rest after its bouncing.
If the probe remains stable, it will engage in several months of science experiments on 67P.If the probe remains stable, it will engage in several months of science experiments on 67P.
It will take pictures of the cometscape and analyse the surface chemical composition to test several hypotheses about the origins of life and the universe.It will take pictures of the cometscape and analyse the surface chemical composition to test several hypotheses about the origins of life and the universe.
One theory holds that comets were responsible for delivering water to the planets. Another idea is that they could have "seeded" the Earth with the chemistry needed to help kick-start life.One theory holds that comets were responsible for delivering water to the planets. Another idea is that they could have "seeded" the Earth with the chemistry needed to help kick-start life.