The Philae Lander on the distance comet 67P has re-established radio contact with the scientists on Earth on this Friday night, sending yet another stream of science data from the space. The robot is shadowed b a cliff and is not able to get enough light, so that it can charge its solar panels to let its systems work again.
Engineers said there is a constant fear of losing contact with the Comet Lander, and this contact will remain only for a while.
On Wednesday, Philae descended itself to the surface of 67P – this is the first in the history that a space mission has made such a soft landing on a comet.
The scientists claimed that the next opportunity to talk to Philae would come around 1100 GMT on Saturday, when the revolving Rosetta satellite – which delivered it to the 4 km-wide “ice mountain” – will come over the horizon.
However, with only 1.5 hours left for the sunshine falling on the robot during the comet’s 12-hour days, it is still very doubtful that battery will be able to perform as expected by scientists to complete the radio link.
Engineers told newspapers that they have tried to manage to maximise the possibility of completing the radio link, though, there is still a need to send commands to re-establish the Lander.
All this process involved raising Philae by 4cm and rotating its main housing by at least 35 percent. All this process will ensure that the largest solar panel catches the most of the light to help recharge the system.
