A two-image mosaic captured by Rosetta’s lander, Philae, on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The lander is resting on its side, and one of its three feet is visible in the foreground. (Source: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA) The first-ever soft landing by a spacecraft on a comet was even more dramatic than originally thought. As it turned out, the Philae lander bounced not once but twice before coming to rest on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko yesterday — on its side.
ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA You can see a part of one of the lander's legs in front of a cliff on the surface of the comet in the mosaic of two images above. Controllers believe only two of Philae's three legs are in contact with the surface. Click the thumbnail at right for a panorama of images with an illustration of the lander superimposed to see the lander's orientation. Because 67P's gravity is so slight, on the surface ...
