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Scientists Say Goodbye to Philae Comet Lander (cnn.com)
Today, scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced that they are saying goodbye to Philae, the comet lander that is currently perched on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as it races toward the sun. According to Stephan Ulamec, Philae's project manager, "Unfortunately, the probability of Philae re-establishing contact with our team at the DLR Lander Control Center is almost zero." Philae first made history when it successfully landed on a comet in fall of 2014, but problems soon began when commands were not able to reach the robot.
More disgusting corporate welfare.
Spinoff technology to fields other than space and space exploration? Better understanding of the Solar System, perhaps leading to the human race getting a colony *somewhere off this rock* in preparation for the next Earth-bound major extinction event?
I do tire of the "NASA has a $19 billion budget and world hunger is not yet solved plus no cure for cancer" mentality. The human race never has and never will pursue only one thing at a time, you know.
AC, would you eliminate 100% of all science research in favor of socialist welfare programs instead of your "corporate welfare?"
As far as I can tell, the lander worked exactly as intended for as long as intended. It's the extended mission that had issues, and that was always an "if possible"/"best effort" prospect .People are continuing to think that this mission was "troubled" and had a lot of problems but was just good, and they got a second shot - which was a very long shot.
I am no apologist for the ESA (far from it) but this was a very nice, well-executed program and they shouldn't and the world shouldn't getting a negative impression about it.
The comet is moving AWAY from the sun, not towards it. Summary and article are written by people who regurgitate more than remember.
On the one hand you take life too seriously, and on the other, you do not take playful existence seriously enough. Seth