# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/61 "2014-11-12T17:20:31Z")
I don’t see how it can drill into the surface if the harpoons haven’t embedded. ---
**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, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/62 "2014-11-12T17:21:56Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I don’t see how it can drill into the surface if the harpoons haven’t embedded. If it didn’t bounce off, can’t the drills just start digging in now? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/63 "2014-11-12T17:25:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > If it didn’t bounce off, can’t the drills just start digging in now? Well, if the lander bounced off, how can the drills reach the surface? Even if it was just sitting there (very unlikely), the torque the drills might need would just push the lander away from the surface. Any any movement away from the comet faster than 1.1 miles an hour mean’s it’ll escape its meager gravity and drift away. ---
**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/64 "2014-11-12T17:27:30Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Well, if the lander bounced off, how can the drills reach the surface? Even if it was just sitting there (very unlikely), the torque the drills might need would just push the lander away from the surface. > > Any any movement away from the comet faster than 1.1 miles an hour mean’s it’ll escape its meager gravity and drift away. I see. What a conundrum. ---
**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, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/65 "2014-11-12T17:35:21Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I supposed the concern is that the module isn’t heavy enough to push the drills into the ground and it’ll just skip around **with** the cable from the harpoons pulling it down. without…that should be ‘it’ll just skip around without the cable…’ > [@CheshireKat](#): > > Yes, there’s a 30 minute delay each way. > > On the harpoon comment: quick Wiki info: > > The lander, named Philae, will approach Churyumov–Gerasimenko at relative speed around 1 m/s (2.2 mph; 3.6 km/h) and **on contact with the surface, two harpoons will be fired into the comet to prevent the lander from bouncing off** because the comet’s escape velocity is only around 0.5 m/s (1.1 mph; 1.8 km/h). **Additional drills are used to further secure the lander on the comet.** After its attachment to the comet, the lander will begin its science mission. So then how does that work? The lander hits the surface and the harpoons instantly deploy to grab the comet? If that’s the case it seems like all we can hope for is that the retro rockets brought it down really softly and exactly level (relatively anyways) so it didn’t roll over. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/66 "2014-11-12T17:46:23Z")
The comet is “singing”… … I’m so glad it’s not rapp ---
**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, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/67 "2014-11-12T17:48:18Z")
How does one sing in a vacuum? I saw that headline too, but didn’t read the story. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/68 "2014-11-12T17:52:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > How does one sing in a vacuum? I saw that headline too, but didn’t read the story. The sounds of interstellar space [explained](http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/01nov_ismsounds/). ---
**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, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/69 "2014-11-12T17:55:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The sounds of interstellar space [explained](http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/01nov_ismsounds/). Ah. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/70 "2014-11-12T18:04:02Z")
First picture from Philae, shortly before it landed: [https://twitter.com/Philae2014/status/532593337585651713](https://twitter.com/Philae2014/status/532593337585651713) ---
**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, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/71 "2014-11-12T18:26:28Z")
And I am 5 bucks richer – woohoo! ---
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/72 "2014-11-12T18:45:22Z")
Jesus Christ, the live feed is just sitting there on one of my tabs and I think I had a mini-stroke when she started talking…and for nothin’. I should probably turn the sound down a little. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/73 "2014-11-12T19:23:10Z")
New (speculative) announcements on the landing: Philae definitely contacted the comet, but it might have bounced and tumbled slightly. There was some rotation detected for a little while but it has now stopped. Right now Philae is out of contact for a few hours while Rosetta is behind the comet. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/74 "2014-11-12T22:30:17Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Suck it, dolphins. > > Primates rule, cetaceans drool. > . 😃 > [@Joey\_P](#): > > I supposed the concern is that the module isn’t heavy enough to push the drills into the ground and it’ll just skip around with the cable from the harpoons pulling it down. > [@Leaffan](#): > > If it didn’t bounce off, can’t the drills just start digging in now? The weight of the lander on the surface of the comet is the equivalent of about 1 gram. So, the slightest disturbance would send it fly away. In particular they’re concerned with random gas releases, frequent on the comet, and also with the possibility that drilling could release gas. So, first time I checked today, the mission was deemed a likely failure because the probe wouldn’t land. Second time, it landed but it’s still almost as bad. We’ll see tomorrow, I guess. I’m really impressed by the precision of such missions. Given the distances involved, I wouldn’t be surprised if they missed Jupiter half the time, let alone a comet. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/75 "2014-11-12T22:30:43Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > New (speculative) announcements on the landing: > > Philae definitely contacted the comet, but it might have bounced and tumbled slightly. There was some rotation detected for a little while but it has now stopped. > > Right now Philae is out of contact for a few hours while Rosetta is behind the comet. It must be frustrating when not only is the speed of light is too slow, but you also have to deal with a ~12 hour rotational period. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/76 "2014-11-12T23:00:34Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Well it _could_, just as it _could_ reveal where the Loch Ness monster goes for ski holidays to beat the crowds. I’m confident we’ve found the final resting place of Jimmy Hoffa. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/77 "2014-11-13T00:18:46Z")
What time will the mission be back in contact with the lander again? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/78 "2014-11-13T00:38:19Z")
From the twitter account of the ROMAP instrument onboard Philae (because of course it has its own account 😉 ) > [@](#): > > @Philae\_ROMAP magnetic field analysis revealed 3 landings at 15:33, 17:26 and 17:33 UTC That two hour long bounce must have been quite the thing! I wonder how far above the surface it got? ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/79 "2014-11-13T02:00:17Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > From the twitter account of the ROMAP instrument onboard Philae (because of course it has its own account 😉 ) > > That two hour long bounce must have been quite the thing! I wonder how far above the surface it got? They are just rubbing it in. :mad: “Oh no, we didn’t just land once in a comet, nuh uh, we landed thrice on it, 'cause we can.” ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411/80 "2014-11-13T03:26:43Z")
I’m really surprised by how the comet looks. Who knew it would be so spiky, so craggy, and so irregular, with its hollows full of what looks like soft sand? In the mental picture that I’d always maintained, comets were like giant pieces of pumice. But, you know, I don’t encounter comets all that often. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-excited-about-this-rosetta-comet-probe/704411.md?page=5)