The European Space Agency’s Philae lander touched down on Comet 67P on November 12, 2014, the first soft landing attempted on a comet's surface.
The mission, supported by the Rosetta orbiter, aimed to analyze the composition of the icy, rubber duck-shaped object as it approached the sun.
The landing did not go as planned. Philae was equipped with harpoons designed to anchor it to the surface, but these failed to fire upon contact. Instead of securing its position, the lander bounced, drifting half a mile above the comet before eventually settling in a dark crevice.
Because the lander landed in a shaded area, its solar panels could not receive the consistent sunlight required for long-term operation. Philae relied on its internal batteries, which lasted for more than two days. During this limited window, the probe successfully utilized its 10 onboard instruments to conduct scientific research, including the detection of organic molecules never before identified on a comet.
Scientists lost track of the lander shortly after its initial bounces. For nearly two years, the location of the probe remained a mystery until the Rosetta orbiter captured images of it lying on its side in September 2016. These photos were taken just weeks before the Rosetta mission itself concluded with a final landing on the comet on September 30, 2016.
Why did the Philae lander bounce during its mission?
The lander bounced because its harpoons, which were intended to secure it to the surface of Comet 67P, failed to fire at the moment of touchdown.
How long was the Philae lander operational on the comet?
Philae functioned for more than two days using its stored battery power after the landing, as its position in a shaded crevice prevented its solar panels from generating sufficient energy.
When was the final location of the Philae lander discovered?
The lander was rediscovered in September 2016, when the Rosetta orbiter captured imagery of it resting in a rocky crevice on the comet.
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