Scientists bid comet lander Philae farewell after radio silence

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Reuters

Feb 12 European scientists have given up hope of restoring contact with space probe Philae, which successfully landed on a comet in a pinpoint operation only to lose power because its solar-driven batteries were in the shade.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) said on Friday it suspects Philae is now covered in dust and too cold to operate.

"Unfortunately, the probability of Philae re-establishing contact with our team at the DLR Lander Control Center is almost zero, and we will no longer be sending any commands," Stephan Ulamec, Philae Project Manager of the DLR, said in a statement.

Philae came to rest on a comet in November 2014 in what was considered a remarkable feat of precision space travel. But it closed down soon after because it was in the shade and could not be recharged.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/space-comet-idUKL8N15R0MK

[Unknown Beatle]

1. That's sad.

Imagine the data it would have sent if it had landed on the sunny side. Another thing, why didn't they place an emergency battery on board just in case something like that happened? It could have righted the solar panels to face the sun, at least by a little, depending on the position of the craft.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. In space vacuum, shade is very very dark. No atmosphere to diffuse light

Also, it did have a battery. That's how it signaled and sent the data it did send that first day.

And it's not just a battery. To do what you say it would have to have actuators (motors) and control circuitry. It would mean a more complicated mechanism for unfurling the panels. All of that means more weight and that means more fuel. Net result is that something else would have had to be cut from the project, some science experiments / sensors.

[bluedigger]

5. Sacrificing effectiveness for efficiency is usually a poor bargain.

One less experiment, and they might have got results from all the others.

[Orrex]

6. Yeah, those dummies at the DLR should have consulted you first

What were they thinking?

[bluedigger]

8. Well, the important thing is that they know now for next time.

[Orrex]

9. It seems likely that someone must have had the conversation already

Last edited Fri Feb 12, 2016, 01:25 PM - Edit history (1)

They hit a pebble with a grain of sand a zillion miles away from our own rock. I trust that someone along the way weighed the pros and cons of including the extra weight of a backup battery, and a decision was made.

If it had failed to find its target due to carrying too much battery mass, someone would post "they should have added more solar panels instead."


Overall I agree with you in that it's a piece of knowledge to help improve the next attempt, but I'm willing to bet that they're all smarter than I am, so I'm inclined to defer to their expertise. Hell, I can't even shoot a layup in basketball, so I'm not going to tell them how to improve the interplanetary marksmanship!

[bluedigger]

10. I am well known for my accurate second guessing.

In fact, I've never been wrong, after the fact.

I'm sure they ran all the different variations and permutations before they built the spacecraft. But just like using analytics in baseball, it proved that the odds are fickle. Next batter!

[longship]

2. Poor little Philae.

Bouncing across that comet and ending up in shadow.

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. So sad. What a way to go. Lost in the cold and the dark...forever.

more:
http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/09/11/understanding-philaes-wake-up-behind-the-scenes-with-the-philae-team/

[Orrex]

7. On the plus side, it's on track to outlast humanity by a few eons

[montana_hazeleyes]

12. Damn, this is making me want to

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Oh dear. Sorry. To quote that eminent philosopher, Kermit,

...as Bob Cratchit:

"Life is made up of meetings and partings; that is the way of it..."

[Unknown Beatle]

17. Well, maybe not forever.

It's on a comet after all. It could slam into something sometime in the future.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

11. enjoy your travels - Philae

...

[montana_hazeleyes]

13. Wait! This just in. They heard from Philae!

" Send snacks."

[Marty McGraw]

14. and

Glow in the Dark Dildos

[bemildred]

15. RIP.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft

Your choice. Klaatu:

The Carpenters:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. Send More Chuck Berry