Abstract The Rosetta Lander Philae is part of the ESA Rosetta Mission which reached comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko after a 10 year cruise in August 2014. Since then, Rosetta has been studying both its nucleus and coma with instruments aboard the Orbiter. On November 12th, 2014 the Lander, Philae, was successfully delivered to the surface of the comet and operated for approximately 64h after separation from the mother spacecraft. Since the active cold gas system aboard the Lander as well as the anchoring harpoons did not work, Philae bounced after the first touch-down at the planned landing site “Agilkia”. At the final landing site, “Abydos”, a modified First Scientific Sequence was performed. Due to the unexpectedly low illumination conditions and a lack of anchoring the sequence had to be adapted in order to minimize risk and maximize the scientific output. All ten instruments could be activated at least once, before Philae went into hibernation. In June 2015, the Lander contacted Rosetta again having survived successfully a long hibernation phase. This paper describes the Lander operations around separation, during descent and on the surface of the comet. We also address the partly successful attempts to re-establish contact with the Lander in June/July, when the internal temperature & power received were sufficient for Philae to become active again.

    Highlights We give an overview of the Rosetta Lander activities around landing and on the comet. Separation-Descent-Landing, First Scientific Sequence and wake up are discussed. The paper focusses on the activities at the Lander Control Centre, LCC.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Rosetta Lander – Landing and operations on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 125 ; 80-91


    Publication date :

    2015-11-24


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English






    Rosetta Lander Descending Phase on the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

    Bertrand, R. / Ceolin, T. / Gaudon, P. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004


    Optical Navigation for Rosetta Operations Near Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko (AAS 13-812)

    Castellini, F. / de Santayana, R.P. / Wokes, D. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2014


    Rosetta Comet Mission: Close Proximity Operations at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and Landing Philae (AAS 13-091)

    Biele, J. / Ulamec, S. / Jurado, E. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2013