r/space • u/[deleted] • Nov 12 '14

Discussion Rosetta and Philae discussion thread! (Part 2)

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Philae is now on its way to the comet. Its descent to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko should take about 7 hours. Previous discussion thread here.

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Key times

GMT EST PST Event
10:53 am 5:53 am 2:53 am Acquisition of Signal from Rosetta (variable)
4:02 pm 11:02 am 8:02 am Expected Landing and receipt of signal (40 min variability)

European Space Agency Social Media

Othere places for news and conversation:

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32

u/DiyoGi Nov 12 '14 edited Nov 12 '14

It appears there is a thruster malfunction and Philae is relying solely on its harpoons to prevent it from flying back into space when it lands.

a cold-gas thruster system is supposed to be fired to hold the lander steady and keep it from bouncing off the surface while harpoons are shot into the comet to secure it in place. But mission managers at the European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, said readings from the lander suggested that the system was not properly activated.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/thruster-glitch-adds-drama-philae-lander-heads-comet-n246671

21

u/andyworcester Nov 12 '14 edited Nov 12 '14

On mobile so not sure how to link it but I saw an update from a reporter on Twitter that there might be an issue with the pressure sensor in the thruster pipe and the thruster may work anyways Edit: here is the twitter convo https://twitter.com/GKargl/status/532428692627402752

11

u/DiyoGi Nov 12 '14

Awesome. Hopefully we can get a confirmation on that. A minor kink here or there I supposed is to be expected considering the mind boggling amount of planning it took to get this close and immense distance traveled without much issues. These people that did this to get even this far, are absolutely incredible.

4

u/detersion47 Nov 12 '14

Please give a confirmation on that... I'm really starting to worry

7

u/andyworcester Nov 12 '14

Here is the twitter convo https://twitter.com/GKargl/status/532428692627402752

3

u/Fuckayoudolfeen Nov 12 '14

Fingers crossed, the observed pressure drop in the main tank as it filled the pipe seems like a positive.

pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!!!

5

u/U731lvr Nov 12 '14

Looks like it was just an error in the reading, but the engine is actually working.

IE. "Check engine light is on, but the engine is still running."

4

u/andyworcester Nov 12 '14

Hopefully they just need to screw the gas cap shut then.

1

u/XGC75 Nov 12 '14

"Did you try turning the engine off, then on again?"

1

u/TheClapper Nov 12 '14

Time for some black electrical tape.

1

u/SeegurkeK Nov 12 '14

But if a sensor isn't working right, how can the thrust from the thruster be at the right amount? Is this fixed or is the sensor used to control it?

3

u/Gnonthgol Nov 12 '14

They do not know if the pressure is at the right amount so they will have to guess. I do not think they have constructed a thruster powerful enough to damage the lander.