BREAKING NEWS: European scientists make space history by successfully landing probe on a comet after 10-year mission and celebrate by tweeting: 'Touchdown! My new address is 67P!'

[mystery-ak]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2831125/Rosetta-mission-broken-thruster-computer-glitch-scupper-today-s-historic-landing-comet-67P.html

BREAKING NEWS: European scientists make space history by successfully landing probe on a comet after 10-year mission and celebrate by tweeting: 'Touchdown! My new address is 67P!'

    Philae made incredible landing on comet 67P today at 3.30pm GMT
    Probe separated from the Rosetta spacecraft seven hours earlier
    'It's a big step for human civilisation,' said Esa director general
    First image by Philae showed Rosetta 50 seconds after separation
    Scientists were worried thruster problem would scupper the landing
    The cold gas thruster on top of the lander was not working properly
    Philae may have had to rely on harpoons to attach to comet instead
    Rosetta has chased comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for 10 years
    This will be the first time a spacecraft has ever landed on a comet

By Jonathan O'Callaghan and Ellie Zolfagharifard for MailOnline

Published: 02:37 EST, 12 November 2014 | Updated: 11:44 EST, 12 November 2014



Rosetta's probe, Philae, has successfully landed on its comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

After a daring seven-hour descent, the probe has made space history by becoming the first ever craft to land on a comet.

In an emotional speech, Esa director general Jean-Jacques Dordain said: 'It's a big step for human civilisation.'



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2831125/Rosetta-mission-broken-thruster-computer-glitch-scupper-today-s-historic-landing-comet-67P.html#ixzz3IsF3V01R