Yesterday, the Rosetta Spacecraft's Philae Lander made history by successfully touching down on a comet, where it began sending back data and images unlike anything we've ever seen.
However, not all went according to plan. In a press conference today, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that the lander's harpoons did not fire, nor did its screws attach it to the comet's surface. Because of that, before its final landing, Philae bounced twice, away from its intended landing site. Not only that, but it's possibly on its side with one of its feet floating in air, not touching the comet.
Because of its new location, the Rosetta team is wary about activating the lander's drill, meant to take samples of the comet for chemical composition analysis. Low gravity, along with the lander's precarious position, could bounce Philae completely off the comet.
Also, images from the lander show that it's possibly sitting in the shadow of a cliff on the comet. This means that its solar panels may not get enough sunlight, which powers the lander's instruments and equipment.
Rosetta is now actively searching for Philae's new position. The Rosetta team hopes that once it's confirmed, they can make new plans on how to continue the lander's mission. For now, though, the ESA confirmed that the lander is stable.
If necessary, the Philae's landing gear can hop across the comet, but the Rosetta team isn't sure it has the power to do so.
These new challenges, however, don't take away from the celebrations of yesterday's achievement. Philae is already sending back important data about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as well as providing images of its target, the first close-up photos we've ever seen of a comet.
Now that I'm safely on the ground, here is what my new home #67P looks like from where I am. #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/gFmt8Ldvpa
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 13, 2014
Another stunning image of my new home taken by ROLIS during #CometLanding yesterday, when I was just 40 m from #67P pic.twitter.com/I8OZ5kXjXA — Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 13, 2014
The view is absolutely breathtaking ESA_Rosetta! Unlike anything I've ever seen #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/flsSdxz0bo
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 13, 2014
The ESA also released an animated image created from Rosetta's photos of Philae's descent to the comet's surface.
[Photo Credit: ESA/Rosetta]
