The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The descent of Philae towards Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014, as if we are riding with the lander.
The animation begins with Philae being ejected by Rosetta and deploying its own three legs, and follows the lander’s descent until it reaches the target site on the comet about seven hours later. Meanwhile, the comet rotates underneath the lander with a period of 12.4 hours.
The animation stops about four and a half hours after separation, after two thirds of the lander’s descent. The total descent time will be about seven hours.
Philae was provided by a consortium led by DLR, MPS, CNES and ASI.