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Rosetta comet chaser completes "big burn"

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    #152
    Javan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 265 ✭✭Javan


    quad_red wrote: »
    From Guardian: Apparently the anchors didn’t deploy, so there’s a concern about the stability of the lander.

    If the anchors haven't fired then it's goosed surely? As soon as it deploys instruments or tries to drill, it'll drift off?

    I guess it depends on what force the harpoons / tethers can take. Certainly it will be unstable ...


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    #153
    brevity
    Registered Users Posts: 8,522 ✭✭✭brevity


    When you think about it, if the anchors\harpoons didn't fire and the thruster failed, it's a bloody miracle that it's there at all.


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    #154
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    It's going to be tricky if/when they do refire them with a 2 x 28 minute round trip before they get confirmation of success.


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    #155
    MayoForSam
    Registered Users Posts: 2,275 ✭✭✭MayoForSam


    Well done ESA, that'll show those NASA lads.

    A very fine achievement considering it was all built in the 1990's using 1980's technology.


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    #156
    josip
    Registered Users Posts: 13,911 ✭✭✭✭josip


    brevity wrote: »
    When you think about it, if the anchors\harpoons didn't fire and the thruster failed, it's a bloody miracle that it's there at all.

    Basically it fell down but most importantly it's got comms to Rosy


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    #157
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    quad_red wrote: »
    From Guardian: Apparently the anchors didn’t deploy, so there’s a concern about the stability of the lander.

    If the anchors haven't fired then it's goosed surely? As soon as it deploys instruments or tries to drill, it'll drift off?
    Some physics-y lads here might be able to do the numbers on it. Mass of harpoon vs mass of lander. Throw in a bit of v=u+at etc and yis have yer answer!!
    Just like that!


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    #158
    brevity
    Registered Users Posts: 8,522 ✭✭✭brevity


    I presume firing the force of firing the harpoons at point blank range might push the lander off or make it unstable? Depends on how strong the screws in the feet are...


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    #159
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    brevity wrote: »
    I presume firing the force of firing the harpoons at point blank range might push the lander off or make it unstable? Depends on how strong the screws in the feet are...
    Philaes mass will slow its rebound to something the feet anchors will hopefully hold. Failing that the harpoon better hold onto something!


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    #160
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    No scheduled updates on livestream? strange...

    Edit: ESA TV report expected shortly.


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    #161
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    mickmackey1 wrote: »
    No scheduled updates on livestream? strange...

    Ominous...


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    #162
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    Update at 6.30


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    #163
    keith16
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    Has the live update started yet? Any links?


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    #164
    youreadthat
    Registered Users Posts: 761 ✭✭✭youreadthat


    Delayed 20 minutes.


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    #165
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    I'm watching a live program on German TV at the moment (3Sat if anyone can pick it up and understands German) and they were saying that one possible reason the harpoons didn't fire was that the surface of the comet may have been too soft, and there are sensors in the ends of the harpoons that detect when they have made contact, and these may have not triggered.


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    #166
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,400 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Alun wrote: »
    the surface of the comet may have been too soft, and there are sensors in the ends of the harpoons that detect when they have made contact, and these may have not triggered.
    Please tell me they can fire the harpoons manually

    though part of me would have preferred a probe that could hop about a bit after the first phase of it's mission


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    #167
    BarryD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭BarryD


    Any word yet? The times seem to be slipping. Must be some issues with images or lack of?


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    #168
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    BarryD wrote: »
    Any word yet? The times seem to be slipping. Must be some issues with images or lack of?
    Just started ...


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    #169
    Mr_Red
    Closed Accounts Posts: 483 ✭✭Mr_Red


    where are you watching live?


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    #170
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Mr_Red wrote: »
    where are you watching live?
    http://rosetta.esa.int/


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    #171
    Javan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 265 ✭✭Javan


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    Please tell me they can fire the harpoons manually

    though part of me would have preferred a probe that could hop about a bit after the first phase of it's mission

    Looks like you might have got your wish! ;)


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    #172
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Javan wrote: »
    Looks like you might have got your wish! ;)
    Yes, not one comet landing, but two!!


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    #173
    MillField
    Registered Users Posts: 635 ✭✭✭MillField


    Very interesting. Has this been a 10 year operation? Chasing a comet?


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    #174
    keith16
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    What an incredible achievement, one of the truly historic moments of our lifetime. I will drink to that!


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    #175
    Javan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 265 ✭✭Javan


    colmulhall wrote: »
    Very interesting. Has this been a 10 year operation? Chasing a comet?

    It has been thirty years in the planning, with ten years since the launch.


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    #176
    MillField
    Registered Users Posts: 635 ✭✭✭MillField


    Javan wrote: »
    It has been thirty years in the planning, with ten years since the launch.

    Wow. Great that it could be completed successfully after all that work. Is this the first landing on a comet?


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    #177
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,464 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    colmulhall wrote: »
    Wow. Great that it could be completed successfully after all that work. Is this the first landing on a comet?
    The first proper landing, yes. NASA had a mission called Deep Impact (!) that literally crashed a small probe into a comet back in 2005 and analysed the stream of dust that came off it.


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    #178
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    No news on the harpoon??


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    #179
    MillField
    Registered Users Posts: 635 ✭✭✭MillField


    Deadly :)


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    #180
    brevity
    Registered Users Posts: 8,522 ✭✭✭brevity


    https://twitter.com/Philae_MUPUS/status/532617413129670657


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    #181
    MillField
    Registered Users Posts: 635 ✭✭✭MillField


    Haha, during the live stream watched by millions the lead scientist wore this:

    KPC0uwD.png


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