Rosetta: the landing point on the comet was chosen – TF1

There were five eligible sites. The European Space Agency has selected two: a primary, “J” and a spare “C” for landing a small module sent by the Rosetta probe on comet 67P. Site J presents “a unique scientific potential (…) and minimal risk to the lander, compared with other eligible sites,” said ESA (European Space Agency) in a statement.
The lander, named “Philae” come off the Rosetta probe, which was launched by ESA in 2004 His descent lasted seven hours between his separation from the probe and its landing on the comet . When it reaches the “Site J” it will drill the surface and take a sample from 20 cm depth for analysis. The “window” of intended landing on the comet will open on November 11, while Rosetta will be at 450 million kilometers from the sun.
Rosetta has reached the outskirts of the comet in August and since then sends pictures of its surface. As it is 30 km from the comet, it takes the clichés were not sufficient resolution to allow the surface to see clearly. “We do not know what, in detail, the surface looks like,” he told Reuters Paolo Ferri, Head of Operations for the Rosetta mission at ESA.

Site J must reach Philae is on the “head” of the comet, irregular celestial body a little more than four miles wide. The operation is difficult. Philae should come off exactly the right time of Rosetta, then this machine 100kg should go down not too slow or too fast, its trajectory should take into account the rotation of the comet and its batteries must have enough energy after landing instruments for deploying the gear.