Module “Fila” smelled on the comet Churyumov – Gerasimenko smell of life and immediately fell asleep – Moskovsky Komsomolets

The first scientific mission success

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Probe “Fila” found organic molecules in the atmosphere of the comet Churyumov – Gerasimenko. However, it is still practically the only outcome of the device, which fell into a deep “sleep” because of the lack of solar energy.

Photos: official twitterEsa_Rosetta Trajectory of the module” Phil ” on 17 November.

Currently, scientists are studying the data obtained in order to understand what are these compounds: simple (as methane and methanol) or more complex (as amino acids), reports Gazeta.ru, citing German Aerospace Center.

Also, get some supplies from the hard surface of a comet, but the data on the organic molecules of this experiment has yet to be thoroughly analyzed, the publication adds.

Scientists expect to find organic molecules Comet Churyumov on – Gerasimenko, but the opportunity to direct the search for such compounds in the atmosphere and on the surface of the experts appeared for the first time.

Recall that the module has made Wednesday’s first landing on the surface of the comet nucleus Churyumova- Gerasimenko, after retransmitting data to Earth on Saturday afternoon has entered sleep mode, said the scientists of the European Space Agency (ESA).

During the last 10 hours the module is in sleep mode and stop sending data due due to weak batteries. On Saturday afternoon the battery module is able to generate enough power for data transmission experiment with drilling surface of the comet.

“Maybe when the module is on the sunny side, we will have enough solar illumination to it (module) to wake up and resume broadcast “- quoted by Reuters representative mission” Phil “scientist Stephen Ulameka. According to him, scientists particularly interested to know the chemical composition of any organic molecules from the samples at the drill site of the comet.

It was reported earlier that the module has problems with recharging. Since the module landed in the shadow of education, like a rock, it prevented the unit to recharge the solar panels. Contact was lost with the module at 03.36 MSK and briefly resumed at 13.00 MSK.

The module “Phil” space probe “Rosetta” landed on the three-kilometer comet nucleus Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Wednesday at about 18.35 MSK. With the module, scientists plan to study the chemical composition of the comet’s nucleus.