Philae

Philae is a robotic European Space Agency lander that was part of the Rosetta (spacecraft) mission to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The lander was named after the Philae (island) in the Nile River, where an Obelisk of Philae was discovered with a Decree of Canopus that helped Jean-François Champollion decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphs. The Rosetta (spacecraft) and Philae were launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The mission was a collaboration between the European Space Agency, NASA, and other international partners, including the German Aerospace Center and the Italian Space Agency.

Introduction

The Philae lander was designed to study the composition and properties of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's surface and subsurface. The lander was equipped with a suite of instruments, including the Comet Acoustic Surface Sounding Experiment (CASSE), the Permitting Investigator Composite Instrument for Surface and Sub-Surface Key Science (PICSI), and the MUpus (Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Subsurface Science). The Philae lander was also equipped with a Radio Science Experiment (RSE) to study the comet's gravity field and Plasma Environment Package (PEP) to study the comet's plasma environment. The mission was supported by the European Space Operations Centre and the NASA Deep Space Network.

Design_and_Construction

The Philae lander was designed and built by a consortium of companies, including EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space), Thales Alenia Space, and the German Aerospace Center. The lander was constructed using a combination of Aluminum and Carbon fiber materials, with a total mass of approximately 100 kg. The lander was equipped with a Landing Gear system, which included three Landing Legs and a Harpoon system to anchor the lander to the comet's surface. The Philae lander was also equipped with a Power System, which included a combination of Solar Panels and Batteries. The lander was tested and validated at the European Astronaut Centre and the Guiana Space Centre.

Mission_Overview

The Rosetta (spacecraft) and Philae were launched on March 2, 2004, from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The spacecraft traveled through space for over 10 years, flying by the Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid 21 Lutetia. The spacecraft arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August 2014 and began to orbit the comet. The Philae lander was released from the Rosetta (spacecraft) on November 12, 2014, and landed on the comet's surface on November 12, 2014. The mission was supported by the European Space Agency, NASA, and other international partners, including the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Landing_and_Operations

The Philae lander landed on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on November 12, 2014, in the Agilkia region. The lander bounced several times before coming to rest in a Shadowed area, which limited the lander's ability to generate power using its Solar Panels. The lander operated for approximately 64 hours, during which time it conducted a series of scientific experiments, including the Comet Acoustic Surface Sounding Experiment (CASSE) and the MUpus (Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Subsurface Science). The lander also returned a series of images and Spectra of the comet's surface. The mission was supported by the European Space Operations Centre and the NASA Deep Space Network.

Scientific_Discoveries

The Philae lander made several significant scientific discoveries during its time on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The lander discovered that the comet's surface is composed of a mixture of Water Ice, Organic Compounds, and Minerals. The lander also discovered that the comet's surface is highly porous and has a very low Density. The lander's Comet Acoustic Surface Sounding Experiment (CASSE) instrument discovered that the comet's surface is covered in a layer of Dust and Debris. The lander's MUpus (Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Subsurface Science) instrument discovered that the comet's surface temperature is around -243°C. The mission was supported by the European Space Agency, NASA, and other international partners, including the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. Category:Astronomy