# Anyone else excited about this Rosetta comet probe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411 "2014-11-12T03:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/1 "2014-11-12T03:11:02Z")
The toaster-sized probe (Philae) is due to separate from the main craft (Rosetta) at 9:03 GMT/UTC (4:03 am EST) Wednesday. Landing will be at 4.02pm GMT/UTC or 11:02am EST. Could be very interesting. The probe had some power-up issues but appears to be working fine now. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/2 "2014-11-12T03:35:51Z")
It’s bigger than a toaster–1 meter by 1 meter by 0.8 meters; I’ve seen it described as being “the size of a washing machine”. But definitely cool, yes. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/3 "2014-11-12T03:37:45Z")
[Wikipedia article on the _Philae_ probe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)), and [official ESA web page for the _Rosetta_ mission](http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/4 "2014-11-12T03:44:34Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > It’s bigger than a toaster–1 meter by 1 meter by 0.8 meters; I’ve seen it described as being “the size of a washing machine”. > > But definitely cool, yes. I could have sworn I heard toaster on the radio this morning. Must be for large bread slices. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/5 "2014-11-12T04:05:01Z")
Well, [y’all’s toasters _are_ different](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricia_Helfer). ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/6 "2014-11-12T06:33:35Z")
The Guardian newspaper (from UK) has a live blog following events. It is a fairly decent newspaper so the livestream should be reasonable ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/7 "2014-11-12T06:34:51Z")
> **[Rosetta mission: Philae craft may have bounced during comet landing – as it...](https://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/live/2014/nov/12/rosetta-comet-landing-live-blog)** > > The European Space Agency has landed a spacecraft called Philae on a comet. Stuart Clark was at Esa mission control in Darmstadt ---
**Author:** ![callander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@callander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callander)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/8 "2014-11-12T10:53:03Z")
I have been watching it here > **[Live updates: Rosetta mission comet landing](https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Live_updates_Rosetta_mission_comet_landing)** > > On 12 November, Rosetta’s Philae probe is set to make the first-ever landing on a comet when it touches down on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/9 "2014-11-12T11:34:53Z")
The Philae lander has separated from Rosetta and is on its way to the comet. A communication link has been established between the two. Touchdown is still a few hours away. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/10 "2014-11-12T12:17:56Z")
[xkcd.com](http://www.xkcd.com/) is doing it live, and apparently self-updating the comic. [QUOTE=Leaffan] I could have sworn I heard toaster on the radio this morning. Must be for large bread slices. [/QUOTE] Maybe if you round it up? 🙂 [Astronomy Picture of the Day](http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141112.html) has some info too. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/11 "2014-11-12T14:09:02Z")
Anyone else get into a “makes it/crashes” bet with a friend? I’m betting makes. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/12 "2014-11-12T14:21:28Z")
[The photo gallery is amazing.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157638315605535/) Can’t wait (and fingers crossed) for the pictures from the surface. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/13 "2014-11-12T14:37:39Z")
I’m watching the live stream, with just over an hour until landing. The joy on their faces has put a huge smile on mine. I am in awe of this project, and also of the fact that I can watch it unfold live. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/14 "2014-11-12T14:44:01Z")
I’m surprised we don’t have pictures of the lander leaving the orbiter. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/15 "2014-11-12T14:48:34Z")
They put up one raw picture about 20 minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/16 "2014-11-12T14:52:55Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m surprised we don’t have pictures of the lander leaving the orbiter. Pictures of the lander just this instant [on the live broadcast.](http://rosetta.esa.int/) I’m almost forgetting I just had two wisdom teeth pulled a couple hours ago. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/17 "2014-11-12T14:57:38Z")
XKCD has a “live” comic dealing with the landing. [xkcd: Landing](http://xkcd.com/1446/) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/18 "2014-11-12T14:59:04Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Pictures of the lander just this instant [on the live broadcast.](http://rosetta.esa.int/) > > I’m almost forgetting I just had two wisdom teeth pulled a couple hours ago. 😃 I’ve got that streaming at work, but I had to walk away to talk to someone for a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/19 "2014-11-12T15:00:07Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > XKCD has a “live” comic dealing with the landing. [xkcd: Landing](http://xkcd.com/1446/) I’ve got that ‘streaming’ too. In fact, when I woke up this morning and checked XKCD, since it’s Wednesday, it’s how I found out about all this. In fact, I’m using XKCD as my countdown, so I know when I really have to be paying attention. ETA 40 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/20 "2014-11-12T15:03:29Z")
I just noticed that when the live feed drops and they go back to that empty room, there’s three computer monitors in the bottom left and a mechanical arm with a camera attached taking a selfie (I assume someone is watching those monitors from somewhere else). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411.md?page=2)