15 March 2026
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  • [ 26 January 2026 ] Dr Allan Chapman (1946-2026) News
  • [ 16 January 2026 ] Potentially bright ‘sungrazing’ comet discovered News
  • [ 17 December 2025 ] Thank you from the editor News
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  • [ 21 October 2025 ] Europe’s planet hunting spacecraft complete and ready for final testing News
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Video: Mission control celebrates separation but anxiety builds over landing

12 November 2014 Astronomy Now

Paolo Ferri, ESA’s Head of Mission Operations, expresses relief at the apparently successful release of Philae from the Rosetta mothership but the potential loss of a crucial touchdown system has caused increased anxiety about the landing.

  • Comet
  • comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko
  • Philae
  • Rosetta

Related Articles

News

Rosetta data from ‘C-G’ give closest-ever look at a comet

22 January 2015 Astronomy Now

A special issue of journal Science published 23rd January reveals details about the shape, evolution and lifespan of comet 67P-Churyumov/Gerasimenko.

Picture This

Top ten Rosetta images from 10km

11 November 2014 Astronomy Now

On the eve of Philae’s landing, the European Space Agency has released its top ten images of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko taken by Rosetta’s navigation camera from its lowest orbit just 10 kilometres from the centre of the nucleus.

News

Philae found! Rosetta’s lander wedged in cometary crevice

5 September 2016 Astronomy Now

Less than a month before the end of the mission, Rosetta’s high-resolution camera has revealed the Philae lander wedged into a dark crack on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The images were taken on 2 September by the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera as the orbiter came within 2.7 kilometres of the comet’s surface.

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News Headlines

  • Dr Allan Chapman (1946-2026)
    26 January 2026
  • Potentially bright ‘sungrazing’ comet discovered
    16 January 2026
  • Thank you from the editor
    17 December 2025
  • Hubble revisits a cosmic yardstick
    25 October 2025
  • Europe’s planet hunting spacecraft complete and ready for final testing
    21 October 2025

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