The search campaign to identify and image the Philae Lander on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Rourke, L.; Tubiana, C.; Güttler, C.; Lodiot, S.; Muñoz, P.; Herique, A.; Rogez, Y.; Durand, J.; Charpentier, A.; Sierks, H.; Gutierrez-Marques, P.; Deller, J.; Grieger, B.; Andres, R.; Geiger, B.; Geurts, K.; Ulamec, S.; Kömle, N.; Lommatsch, V.; Maibaum, M.; Pellon, J.L.; Bielsa, C.; Garmier, R.; Taylor, M.; Martin, P.; Küppers, M.; Accomazzo, A.; Companys, V.; Bibring, J.P.; Kofman, W.; Mckenna Lawlor, S.; Salatti, M.; Gaudon, P.;
• Is Part Of: Acta astronautica. Volume 157(2019)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 214
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Astronautics -- Periodicals; Outer space -- Exploration -- Periodicals; Astronautics; Periodicals; 629.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.12.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-5765

Abstract

Abstract: On the 12th of November 2014, the Rosetta Philae Lander descended to make the first soft touchdown on the surface of a comet – comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. That soft touchdown did occur but due to the failure in the firing of its two harpoons, Philae bounced and travelled across the comet making contact with the surface twice more before finally landing in a shaded rocky location somewhere on the southern hemisphere of the comet. The search campaign, led by ESA, involved multiple teams across Europe with a wide range of techniques used in support of it. This search campaign would continue through 2015 where a prime candidate on the surface was identified and on into 2016 to end on the 2nd of September 2016 when a definitive and conclusive image was taken of the lander on the surface of the comet, confirming the prime candidate to indeed be Philae. Highlights: The search campaign, led by ESA, involved multiple teams across Europe. Four search campaigns were carried out to try to locate Philae on the comet surface. Numerous techniques, including the use of 3D overlays, were employed to locate Philae. The famous image of Philae was the very last image taken in the last search campaign.