Capabilities of Philae, the Rosetta Lander
Abstract
In situ (and sample return) space missions are the most promising tools to investigate the origin and evolution of comet nuclei. We present the instruments and investigations that will be performed with PHILAE (the ROSETTA Lander) on comet 67P Churyumov Gerasimenko, starting in November 2014, ten years after launch. The rationale and the performance of the scientific instruments is briefly presented along with a description of the Lander mission (separation, descent, landing, operation on the comet surface both short-term and long-term) and the status of the mission (results of commissioning and cruise check-outs and science investigations).
- Publication:
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Space Science Reviews
- Pub Date:
- July 2008
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2008SSRv..138..275B
- Keywords:
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- Comets: individual (67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko);
- In situ analysis;
- Rosetta;
- Philae;
- Lander;
- Missions