Artist’s impression provided December 20, 2013 by ESA showing the robot Philae on the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, nicknamed “tchouri”. – ESA MEDIALIAB

Anissa Boumediene

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Philae awoke. After seven months of sleep, the little robot from ESA, the European Space Agency, came out of his cosmic hibernation. This weekend, the Rosetta probe, orbiting Comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko where the robot is located, captured communications sent by Philae.

Now that again enjoying the rays the sun, the robot can finally recharge your batteries and get back to work to unravel the mysteries of the creation of the solar system. “All instruments of Philae work,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman of the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). But for now, the Philae exposure time to the sun does not allow him to communicate with Rosetta long time, or engage in too complex and intensive analysis of energy. “Record temperatures of the comet, soil and gas analyzes” will therefore be a good start. “Then Philae can send us pictures,” explains the scientist.



well away Rosetta

Philae transmits its data to Rosetta which in turn sends them to Earth, where Scientists exploit. But the first data received by the probe indicates that the robot woke before this weekend without the probe to capture the earliest. At this time, Rosetta orbiting tchouri at a distance of approximately 200 kilometers of Philae

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Getting closer would allow it to better capture the information sent by Philae, but he is not sure it does. “As the comet approaches the Sun, it rejects gas and dust. If the probe is too close to tchouri, there is a risk of it being damaged by such emissions. Rosetta will therefore remain at a safe distance, “said Jean-Yves Le Gall.



” The best is ahead of us “

In November, the first drilling attempt comet Philae had failed, but the robot will soon try again. “As soon as he can, Philae will retry a drill to the core surface of the comet, hope the President of CNES. This experience could help us better understand the evolution of our solar system. ” And who knows, maybe find organic molecules that have played a role in the emergence of life on Earth.

“This is a world first and nothing like this will be done within fifteen coming years. See the work of the robot on this comet is extraordinary. Philae may continue working a few months, hope Jean-Yves Le Gall. The best is ahead of us. “