The night of 11 to 12 November 2014 was extremely tense for the staff of the European Space Agency: experts inspect all machine systems “Rosetta” and lander “Fila” before you spend undock and begin the descent module on the surface of the nucleus of comet Churyumov -Gerasimenko.
The audit showed that the active shutter system lander “Fila” can not be activated. This system provides traction and helps prevent the rebound machine at the moment of landing on the surface of the cosmic wanderer. Recall that the gravity on the surface of a celestial body is very low.
At the time of “landing” chassis unit will try to compensate for the forces acting on the machine, and ice screws placed on each “leg” of the module, will allow him to slow down smoothly as possible. Major role in keeping the “Fila” on the surface of the comet will play a harpoon system that compensates for the lack of the necessary gravity.
At the same time micromotor low thrust at the top of the lander will have to push the machine to the comet to to counter the momentum of the harpoon system (it is easy to guess, send the unit from the surface).
“micromotor on the cold gas at the top of the unit, apparently, is not working properly. Therefore, we must rely on harpoon system at the moment of contact with the surface of the comet module. Let us hope that the device will not fall while on some island boulder “- says the control module” Fila “Stefan Ulamek (Stephan Ulamec).
In general, , mission managers noted that at the time of inspection systems do have problems, but scientists decided not to stay and pursue the case. Moreover, the contact device “Fila” with Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the surface will occur as scheduled.
For the last night of 11 to 12 November 2014 ESA researchers repeatedly made decisions about giving team Go / No-Go ( “run or not to run”). The first command was given at 19:00 GMT (22:00 Moscow time). She confirmed that the location of the “Rosetta” in the orbit of the comet and the right module, “Fila” can be launched at the scheduled time.
The second command Go sounded at 02:35 GMT (5:35 Moscow time) and meant that boarding module is ready for undocking. The final maneuver unit “Rosetta” was held at 07:35 GMT (10:35 by the time the capital of Russia). Now the probe is 22.5 kilometers from the center of the cometary nucleus.
After this has been given the final command Go: two spacecraft in orbit of the comet, ground stations, and all the systems and teams are ready for planting. At this point, around 9:05 GMT (12:35 Moscow time), there was undocking apparatus “Fila” from parent “Rosetta”.
After confirming the success of a few hours from the probe will not be any news since the signals it sends only a “Rosetta”. When the channel of communication between the two devices will be installed, then the further progress of the mission will be to monitor continuously. Any inhabitant of the earth, having access to the Internet can watch the live broadcast of ESA.
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