Picking a comet landing site
Comet 67P/C-G as seen on August 22, 2014
from 40 miles. Click on image for full resolution.
Engineers have begun the landing site selection for Rosetta’s Philae lander.
This week, up to ten possible sites are being laid on the table for a first round of dedicated discussions and for the LCC and the SONC to carry out a technical analysis on each site, ready to be presented at the weekend meeting. Participants of the LSSG will then review the results from the technical analysis and discuss the scientific merits of the candidate sites. By the end of the weekend meeting, as many as five sites could be selected for further detailed investigation.
They will announce the five finalist sites on Monday.
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Comet 67P/C-G as seen on August 22, 2014
from 40 miles. Click on image for full resolution.
Engineers have begun the landing site selection for Rosetta’s Philae lander.
This week, up to ten possible sites are being laid on the table for a first round of dedicated discussions and for the LCC and the SONC to carry out a technical analysis on each site, ready to be presented at the weekend meeting. Participants of the LSSG will then review the results from the technical analysis and discuss the scientific merits of the candidate sites. By the end of the weekend meeting, as many as five sites could be selected for further detailed investigation.
They will announce the five finalist sites on Monday.
In order to remain completely independent and honest in my writing, I accept no sponsorships from big space companies or any political organizations. Nor do I depend on ads.
Instead, I rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal, or $3 to $50 through Patreon, or any amount through Zelle.
The best method to donate or subscribe is by using Zelle through your internet bank account, since it charges no fees to you or I. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). What you donate is what I get.
To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If these electronic payment methods don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
It says that the lander might topple over if it lands on a steep surface. But the surface gravity is less than 0.00001g. There is not much up and down on that comet. At the neck the gravity should be even more canceled out by the two opposing bodyparts, but boulders seem to have been collected there.
It’ll be amazing to see this thing up close, and it getting active with geysers or whatever.