Sunday, June 14, 2015

A little sun is always helpful

The probe that landed on a comet sent back data recently - thanks to riding the comet closer to the sun.
Scientists had lost contact with the solar-powered probe after it was dropped on the icy comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by its mothership Rosetta on Nov. 15. Philae's battery ran out at about 60 hours after it landed next to a cliff that largely blocked sunlight from reaching the lander's solar panels.
Scientists had hoped the probe would wake up again as the comet approached the sun, enabling Philae's solar panels to soak up enough light to charge the craft's main battery. But there were fears its mission would be cut short.
Any such fears ended late Saturday, when the European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, received signals from the lander.
As the start of summer looms, remember getting sun can be good for you.

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