Ground control bids farewell to space probe which fell asleep on a comet

Scientists have given up hope of restoring contact with space probe Philae. They have stopped sending messages to the washing machine-sized craft, which landed on a comet in a pinpoint operation in November 2014, because it is too cold for it to function. “Unfortunately, the probability of Philae re-establishing contact with our team at the DLR Lander Control Center is almost zero, and we will no longer be sending any commands,” said Philae project manager Stephan Ulamec.

It would be very surprising if we received a signal now

Philae project manager Stephan Ulamec

Philae lost power after landing comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko because its solar-driven batteries were in the shade. It woke up in June as the comet approached the sun, giving scientists hope that the lander could complete some experiments. But they say there is little hope of it reawakening as it is covered in dust and night-time temperatures on the comet are can fall below -180C. However, before it stopped communicating Philae, which took ten years to reach the comet, sent back reams of data. An attempt to land its mother craft, Rosetta, on the comet will be made in September.

There is so much data to interpret and tons of stuff to work on. There was lots of carbon dioxide, water and more complicated molecules.

Prof Monica Grady, whose ecstatic reaction to the landing went viral

Science