The probe is the first time in the history of Philae docked to the comet – RBC

The probe Philae 16 km from the surface of the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Photo: AP

The robot Philae, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA), has successfully reached the nucleus of comet 67P / Churyumov – Gerasimenko and made a soft landing on the surface. Information about this appeared in the official Twitter ESA. “We are on a comet!” – Reported in the social network space agency officials.

The device undocked from the Rosetta spacecraft earlier Wednesday. After seven hours of descent at a speed of about one meter per second ESA scientists confirmed the safe landing of the probe. Docking occurred at about 15:36 on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in spite of not quite correct operation of the steering device of the probe, which was to facilitate the docking unit with the surface of the comet.

On board the probe are ten tools for research comet nucleus. Scientists plan to study the internal structure of a celestial body using radio waves and soil samples, and installed aboard the probe microchamber should be transferred to the ground with panoramic pictures of the comet surface.

Landing Philae to the surface of the comet Churyumov – Gerasimenko was the culmination of a ten-year mission . According to Director General of ESA, Jean-Jacques Dordain, the successful landing of the module is a huge work of scientists.

«Everyone is quite clear that such a complex project can not be implemented without a strong training. His success today provided a great work of specialists ESA and national space agencies, extensive experience of these people, persistent collective work, it took a lot of effort, “- said Dordain (quoted by TASS).

The head of ESA quoted at the center of the control Professor Klim Churyumov flight, said that “this is a big step for mankind».

Rosetta was launched to comet Churyumov – Gerasimenko March 2, 2004. The name comes from the spacecraft Rosetta stone – a stone slab with the same text in three ancient languages, with which scientists were able to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. With the probe spacecraft, scientists hope to learn how the solar system looked before planets formed. In addition to the organizations mission Rosetta ESA involved 50 companies from 14 countries.

Comet 67P opened on October 23, 1969 in Kiev, astronomer Klim Churyumov while watching another photographic plates of the comet – 32P / Comas Sola, who starred in the previous month Alma-Ata Observatory Svetlana Gerasimenko. The size of the comet’s nucleus is 3×5 km, orbital period – 6.6 years.