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Science

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Sat Mar 29, 2014, 11:47 AM Mar 2014

Comet lander checks in with Earth

The Philae lander, which Europe hopes to put on the surface of a comet later this year, has been re-activated after three years in deep-space hibernation.

The small probe is currently riding piggy-back on the Rosetta satellite. This was despatched 10 years ago to rendezvous with the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and was itself awoken in January.

"Mothership" and lander should arrive at the huge ice object in August.

After a period of mapping, Rosetta will then release Philae on its challenging bid to attach itself to 67P in November.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26790833