Valuable data received from comet landing: ESA

European scientists say they've received valuable data from the robotic lander they placed on a comet last year.

An ESA image showing Philae (bottom left) on the comet

An ESA image showing Philae (bottom left) on the comet

European scientists say they've received valuable data from the robotic lander they placed on a comet last year.

Placing the unmanned Philae robot on the 67P comet was the first-ever landing on a comet.

It was the culmination of two decades' work, at a cost of about $2 billion, by the European Space Agency.

The Philae lander detached from an ESA spacecraft called Rosetta and descended onto the 67P comet 510 million kms from Earth.

Although Philae was able to land onto the surface of the comet, it failed to anchor properly.

It now lies on an angle with its battery depleted.

Scientists hope to revive Philae next month as the comet approaches the sun and extra light falls on its solar panels.

Professor Mark McCaughrean from the ESA, and has been working on the mission.

He told Will Mumford that despite the setbacks, Philae has still been able to send back important information.

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By Will Mumford


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