SCIENCE technical prowess, the Rosetta mission and the Philae robot brought this year their share of scientific discoveries …
On November 12, 2014, the Philae robot bounced off the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, over ten years after left terra firma aboard the European space probe Rosetta. A year after his eventful landing, his instruments have delivered valuable data for scientists to suit his sporadic revivals.
Philae could resume contact in the coming days
Thursday, Philae will blow his first candle on Tchouri. A good time to reconnect with Rosetta, whom he has not been heard from since July 9. That is certainly the hope of the members of Science Operations and Navigation Centre (SONC) at CNES in Toulouse.
“We are optimistic, Rosetta is approaching within 200 km altitude of the comet, a distance in which communication can take place with Philae. Now, do not out of danger, he has not moved during the degassing of the comet or solar panels are not covered with dust, “Philippe Gaudon list, Project Manager Rosetta mission for CNES.
A year sawtooth
The year has not been restful for those who watch behind the screens. After 60 hours of intense work during the two days following his arrival on Tchouri, Philae fell into a long period of hibernation takes energy.
June 13 at night, it’s Philippe Gaudon will hear the first twittering back to life Philae. L e droid finally managed to pass the harsh winter.
S ix days later, a long 19 minutes communication Rosetta had allowed him to transmit a large amount of data. The official said if Philae has no technical problems, it should have enough energy to be in the process of automatically manage and continue its life until at least the end of the year. It remains to reconnect.
Major scientific findings
landing on Tchouri, Philae has achieved a first in the history of exploration of the solar system, which is already a feat in itself. With its Cosac instrument, it was able to detect complex organic molecules that might be the cause of life. “This result is important because it was one of the primary objectives of the mission,” argues Phillipe Gaudon.
But one of the biggest surprises for scientists came from Rosina. This instrument sniffed oxygen, and that, it was not really planned. His presence calls into question theories about the birth of the solar system and is mulling astrophysicists who certainly will take several years to agree on the correct answer
& gt;. & Gt; Read also: Mission Rosetta, three hypotheses to explain the oxygen Tchouri
By cons, when comets hit the Earth came and participated in the formation of the oceans due to their water they may have brought in their luggage this oxygen there.
Philae still some missions to complete
If Philae again gives its news, technicians are ready to unsheathe . First, they will make him do simple measurements of temperature, electron and make him use his microscope to see if dust has not even placed inside the robot. And thus analyze them.
Then there are the CIVA and Rolis cameras that come in action to see if the little robot moved. “After we attempt a drill, it is hoped in the soil and not in a vacuum like the last time,” the Rosetta mission manager at CNES. And if he manages to recover some of the nucleus of the comet, this will learn more about the carbonaceous organic material detected on its surface.
It remains in any case enough data to exploit for hold the breath by scientists several years.
Philae reclaimed media space
Even the dog of President Hollande named after him. The landing of Philae held spellbound the world, passionate big and small. “This may be because the comet has always been present in the lives of people for centuries, it’s scary,” Philippe Gaudon advance.
Being able to virtually deliver live images taken millions of kilometers had to have also have an impact. A technical feat that is also found in the exploration of Mars Curiosity Rover. A return to the conquest of space, which is also found on the big screen with the success of ‘Interstellar , Gravity or Only on Mars .
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