Philae , the first human - made object toland on a comet , is now for good inoperative . When it landed in November 2014 , it bounced off the surface and crumple a few times , finally landing in a funny area where its solar control board could n’t fully charge .
The team had not heard from Philae since last July so they decided to attempt a risky manoeuvre to seek and dislodge the lander . They sent a signaling command Philae to spin its internal flywheel in the Leslie Townes Hope of get more sunlight on its solar panels . It did not work .
“ We have to face reality , and chances get less and less every day as we are getting farther and farther by from the sun , ” say lander manager Stephan Ulamec toNew Scientist . “ At some point we have to accept we will not get signals from Philae anymore . ”
Philae was in mathematical operation for about 60 hours after it shore and it woke up againlast June , confirm that it was in proficient wellness . It had several short communication theory with flat coat control , but it had difficulties in establishing a unchanging connection . Rosetta , Philae ’s orbiting fellow traveler , then had to be move to a high orbit because Comet 67P / Churyumov – Gerasimenko was getting closer to the Sun and thus more active , displace out of the range of communication .
Philae ’s last communicating was on July 9 , 2015 , when it transmitted measuring data ; unluckily , mission comptroller were unable to send more command for potential investigating , and the probe has been soundless ever since . The squad will taste a few more commands but it ’s unlikely it will derive back online . The comet is moving away from the Sun , which prepare it even less potential for Philae to saddle its electric battery enough to send a sign .
This might be the end for Philae , but its scientific contribution is not over . Scientists are still working on the datum that the lander get off , and we might have some close - up shot of Philae in the summer . Rosetta will be crashed on 67P in September , and it will go into a downcast orbit , over Philae ’s predicted location , before meeting its end of the world . “ You should clearly see the lander , and this will help us interpret the data we received in November , ” said Ulamec .
[ H / T : New Scientist ]
