Three legged robot, Philae kiss presence of organic molecules in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, important compounds that are the basis of life on Earth..
The scientists team at Philae mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, revealed that they were not convinced that the molecule was found to contain complex compounds such as proteins. However, they believe that found an organic molecule.
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| Rosetta spacecraft mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in an artist's illustration. (Picture from: http://davidpiercestudio.com/) |
Philae robotic lander is part of the Rosetta spacecraft mission, which was launched in 2004. The mission is managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to investigate the comet to uncover the origins of life on Earth.
In August, Rosetta reached the orbit of comet 67P/CG, while on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, Rosetta releasing its robotic lander to the surface of 67P/CG. Philae successfully landed after a 7 hour travelled in space, and record as the first robot that landed on the surface of the comet.
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| The science instruments of Rosetta's Philae. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1x3ScOP) |
Because, the Philae foot malfunctioned so the landing was not smooth. The robot had bounced three times before landing behind a small cliff, 1 km from Agilkia, which is supposed landing site. Finally, Philae not get sunlight, and experiencing low bat conditions, and finally torpor.
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| Face the comet 67P/CG portrayed by Philae shortly after landing on its surface. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1xPUiDG) |
Luckily, before Philae died on Saturday, November 15, 2014, scientists teams had to shoot the landing environment, gas analysis, and drilling. The gas analysis used the COSAC instruments produce the alleged presence of organic molecules.
Drilling for detecting organic molecules below the soil surface is also successful. However, it is unclear whether the instrument has sent the data to the mission control team before Philae torpor.
The team of scientists conducting research in temperature, density, and other characteristics with temperature sensors named MUPUS. However, the attempt failed. So penetrating depth of 20 cm from the surface, the instrument met with very hard objects, predictable as hard as ice cubes.
"It's a surprise. We did not think there was hard ice on the surface of the comet's," said Tilman Spohn, MUPUS team leader as quoted by Reuters on November 12, 2014. The surface of 67P/CG was not malleable as alleged.
Scientists reveal, although currently Philae torpor, they are still optimistic that if this mission will continue. And Philae predicted to be able to revive in March 2015 after exposure to sunlight, and allow its solar panels to recharge the batteries. *** [EKA | FRON VARIOUS SOURCES | REUTERS]
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