Wiki gives the size of the comet as “2.55×1.99×0.81 mi”. Turning that would be asking a lot of a little rocket engine, I think.
Even bigger, that’s only the large lobe, added together I come up with roughly 6.5 miles by 2.5 miles by 1.5 miles. So yeah, you’re right, that rocket probably wouldn’t do anything. In my head, this was a little tiny thing.
Here’s some good schematics on the dimensions of the comet.
Unless I’m way off, it’s about the size of Manhattan from the tip to Central Park.
Are we going to get to see any color images?
In fact ROLIS (which produced the descent images taken by Philae), CIVA (which made the post-landing suite) and OSIRIS (aboard the Rosetta orbiter) are colour cameras. Here are OSIRIS images of Earth:
And OSIRIS and CIVA images of Mars:
Consistent with what we saw at Steins, Lutetia, and Itokawa, it’s starting to seem like these bodies are just really gray.
If you have a 3D printer (or access to one) you can make a model of the comet. Since Rosetta reached the comet in August it has been mapping the surface while looking for a landing site. The data has been compiled and you can download the files, then print your own model.
Edit: You can save yourself one click and get the files here.
I wish I had a 3D printer.
What do you think this is? 1972?!
I downloaded the .obj and opened it up in Cinema 4D, and the tessellation was pretty low-definition. Not only that, but the “dark” side is completely unmapped, so it’s just a smooth patch over the entire far side.
…but it’s still cool!
Would there be any colour? Was there colour on the moon? Serious question.
While the launch was a decade ago, you have to bear in mind almost everything on this trip was designed 20 years ago, inc. cameras and software.
Not sure about the comet, but that’s the point of the mission, to find out.
The Moon has some colour, I think on Apollo 17 they found a patch of orange soil for example.
::faints::
I’m sure the comet has some color. Even if mostly dark gray, there’s subtleties to materials and what have you, in the way they’ll absorb, reflect or refract light.
Here’s an enhanced color image of the moon.
That was orange cheddar cheese.
Meanwhile, back to the lander, apparently the nitrocellulose they used to fire the harpoons doesn’t work in a vacuum. :smack:
Nitrocellulose is the fancy name for gun cotton, which, IIRC, was what they used on Jules Verne From the Earth to the Moon to shoot the projectile/capsule. While I do like Steampunk I think some more modern alternative may had been a good idea.
My go to place for updates:
https://twitter.com/elakdawalla
The lander and MUPUS (well, their controllers) also tweet, but Emily seems to be on top of it
Brian
I wish Emily was on top of ‘it’ …
It stoped then started sending signals. They seem to think the lander may have moved - maybe it’s decided on a tan. It’s also drilling. Loving how random this is …
Why would it not work?
WTH? They didn’t test all the systems in a vacuum before using it on the lander? That’s a weird thing to botch.
Kerbal Space Program models reality better than we thought! 