1st Image Released From Surface Of Speeding Comet
This November 13, 2014 handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which landed on the comet’s surface yesterday. ESA, despite some malfunctions on the Philae craft, successfully landed it on the comet on November 12, 2014 making it the first man-made craft to ever land on a comet. The Philae lander, launched from the Rosetta probe, is a mini laboratory that will gather data on the comet. (Photo ESA via Getty Images)
(CBS SF) – The European Space Agency has released the first image that shows the surface of a comet.
The ESA released the picture of the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which landed on the comet’s surface Wednesday. It was the first successful landing on the surface of a comet in human history.
The landing is the highlight of a decade-long mission to link up with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
