Philae (spacecraft)#Landing and surface operations

File:Landing on a Comet - The Rosetta Mission.webm by the German Aerospace Centre about Philae{{'s}} landing mission. (10 min, English, in 1080p HD)]]

Philae{{'s}} mission was to land successfully on the surface of a comet, attach itself, and transmit data about the comet's composition. The Rosetta spacecraft and Philae lander were launched on an Ariane 5G+ rocket from French Guiana on 2 March 2004, 07:17 UTC, and travelled for 3,907 days (10.7 years) to Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Unlike the Deep Impact probe, which by design struck comet Tempel 1's nucleus on 4 July 2005, Philae is not an impactor. Some of the instruments on the lander were used for the first time as autonomous systems during the Mars flyby on 25 February 2007. CIVA, one of the camera systems, returned some images while the Rosetta instruments were powered down, while ROMAP took measurements of the Martian magnetosphere. Most of the other instruments needed contact with the surface for analysis and stayed offline during the flyby. An optimistic estimate of mission length following touchdown was "four to five months".{{Cite news |last=Gilpin |first=Lyndsey |date=14 August 2014 |title=The tech behind the Rosetta comet chaser: From 3D printing to solar power to complex mapping |url=http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-tech-behind-the-rosetta-comet-chaser-from-3d-printing-to-solar-power-to-complex-mapping/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819184449/http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-tech-behind-the-rosetta-comet-chaser-from-3d-printing-to-solar-power-to-complex-mapping/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |work=TechRepublic }}

The goals of the scientific mission have been summarised as follows:

"The scientific goals of its experiments focus on elemental, isotopic, molecular and mineralogical composition of the cometary material, the characterization of physical properties of the surface and subsurface material, the large-scale structure and the magnetic and plasma environment of the nucleus. In particular, surface and sub-surface samples will be acquired and sequentially analyzed by a suite of instruments. Measurements will be performed primarily during descent and along the first five days following touch-down. "{{cite journal |title=The Rosetta Lander ("Philae") Investigations |journal=Space Science Reviews |first1=J.-P. |last1=Bibring |first2=H. |last2=Rosenbauer |first3=H. |last3=Boehnhardt |first4=S. |last4=Ulamec |first5=J. |last5=Biele |first6=S. |last6=Espinasse |first7=B. |last7=Feuerbacher |first8=P. |last8=Gaudon |first9=P. |last9=Hemmerich |first10=P. |last10=Kletzkine |first11=D. |last11=Moura |first12=R. |last12=Mugnuolo |first13=G. |last13=Nietner |first14=B. |last14=Pätz |first15=R. |last15=Roll |first16=H. |last16=Scheuerle |first17=K. |last17=Szegö |first18=K. |last18=Wittmann |display-authors=5 |volume=128 |issue=1–4 |pages=205–220 |date=February 2007 |doi=10.1007/s11214-006-9138-2 |bibcode=2007SSRv..128..205B|s2cid=51857150 }}

File:Rosetta's Philae on Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko.jpg

Philae remained attached to the Rosetta spacecraft after rendezvousing with Churyumov–Gerasimenko on 6 August 2014. On 15 September 2014, ESA announced "{{Nowrap|Site J}}" on the smaller lobe of the comet as the lander's destination.{{Cite press release |last=Bauer |first=Markus |date=15 September 2014 |title='J' Marks the Spot for Rosetta's Lander |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/J_marks_the_spot_for_Rosetta_s_lander |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615202531/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/J_marks_the_spot_for_Rosetta_s_lander |archive-date=15 June 2023 |access-date=20 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} Following an ESA public contest in October 2014, {{Nowrap|Site J}} was renamed Agilkia in honour of Agilkia Island.{{Cite news |last=Kramer |first=Miriam |date=5 November 2014 |title=Historic Comet Landing Site Has a New Name: Agilkia |url=https://www.space.com/27662-rosetta-comet-landing-site-agilkia.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321104239/https://www.space.com/27662-rosetta-comet-landing-site-agilkia.html |archive-date=21 March 2023 |access-date=5 November 2014 |work=Space.com }}

A series of four go/no-go checks were performed on 11–12 November 2014. One of the final tests before detachment from Rosetta showed that the lander's cold-gas thruster was not working correctly, but the "go" was given anyway, as it could not be repaired.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=12 November 2014 |title=Rosetta and Philae Go for separation |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/12/rosetta-and-philae-go-for-separation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094844/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/12/rosetta-and-philae-go-for-separation/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=12 November 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} Philae detached from Rosetta on 12 November 2014 at 08:35 UTC SCET.{{Cite press release |date=26 September 2014 |title=Rosetta to Deploy Lander on 12 November |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_to_deploy_lander_on_12_November |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501090227/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_to_deploy_lander_on_12_November |archive-date=1 May 2023 |access-date=4 October 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}{{Cite press release |last=Platt |first=Jane |date=6 November 2014 |title=Rosetta Races Toward Comet Touchdown |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosetta-races-toward-comet-touchdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094851/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosetta-races-toward-comet-touchdown |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=7 November 2014 |publisher=NASA }}

File:Signal received from Rosetta (12055070794).jpg signal received at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany (20 January 2014)]]

Philae{{'s}} landing signal was received by Earth communication stations at 16:03 UTC after a 28-minute delay.{{Cite news |date=12 November 2014 |title=Probe makes historic comet landing |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30026398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214121717/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30026398 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=12 November 2014 |work=BBC News }} Unknown to mission scientists at that time, the lander had bounced. It began performing scientific measurements while slowly moving away from the comet and coming back down, confusing the science team.{{Cite web |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Lakdawalla |date=12 November 2014 |title=Philae Has Landed! [Updated] |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/11120821-philae-has-landed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094852/https://www.planetary.org/articles/11120821-philae-has-landed |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |publisher=The Planetary Society }} Further analysis showed that it bounced twice.{{Cite press release |last1=Agle |first1=D. C. |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Bauer |first3=Markus |date=13 November 2014 |title=Rosetta's Comet Lander Landed Three Times |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosettas-comet-lander-landed-three-times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112155443/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosettas-comet-lander-landed-three-times |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |publisher=NASA }}

Philae{{'s}} first contact with the comet occurred at 15:34:04 UTC SCET.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=28 November 2014 |title=Did Philae graze a crater rim during its first bounce? |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/28/did-philae-graze-a-crater-rim-during-its-first-bounce/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425215703/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/28/did-philae-graze-a-crater-rim-during-its-first-bounce/ |archive-date=25 April 2023 |access-date=8 December 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} The probe rebounded off the comet's surface at {{convert|38|cm/s|abbr=on}} and rose to an altitude of approximately {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}. For perspective, had the lander exceeded about {{convert|44|cm/s|abbr=on}}, it would have escaped the comet's gravity.{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=14 November 2014 |title=European Probe Survived Comet Landing with Luck and Great Design |url=https://www.space.com/27769-philae-comet-landing-survival-luck.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201103153/https://www.space.com/27769-philae-comet-landing-survival-luck.html |archive-date=1 December 2023 |access-date=8 December 2014 |work=Space.com }} After detecting the touchdown, Philae{{'s}} reaction wheel was automatically powered off, resulting in its momentum being transferred back into the lander. This caused the vehicle to begin rotating every 13 seconds. During this first bounce, at 16:20 UTC SCET, the lander is thought to have struck a surface prominence, which slowed its rotation to once every 24 seconds and sent the craft tumbling.{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |date=2 December 2014 |title=Philae's Wild Comet Landing: Crater Grazing, Spinning And Landing In Parts Unknown |url=https://www.universetoday.com/116927/philaes-wild-comet-landing-crater-grazing-spinning-and-landing-in-parts-unknown/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112155443/https://www.universetoday.com/116927/philaes-wild-comet-landing-crater-grazing-spinning-and-landing-in-parts-unknown/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=8 December 2014 |work=Universe Today }} Philae touched down a second time at 17:25:26 UTC SCET and rebounded at {{convert|3|cm/s|abbr=on}}. The lander came to a final stop on the surface at 17:31:17 UTC SCET. It sits in rough terrain, apparently in the shadow of a nearby cliff or crater wall, and is canted at an angle of around 30 degrees, but is otherwise undamaged.{{Cite magazine |last=Beatty |first=J. Kelly |date=15 November 2014 |title=Philae Wins Race to Return Comet Findings |url=http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/philae-lander-success-11152014/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222151546/https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/philae-lander-success-11152014/ |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=8 November 2014 |magazine=Sky & Telescope }} Its final location was determined initially by analysis of data from CONSERT in combination with the comet shape model based on images from the Rosetta orbiter,{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=21 November 2014 |title=Homing in on Philae's final landing site |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/21/homing-in-on-philaes-final-landing-site/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222151733/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/21/homing-in-on-philaes-final-landing-site/ |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} and later precisely by direct imaging from Rosetta.

An analysis of telemetry indicated that the initial impact was softer than expected,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/rosetta-space-mission-philae-probe-lands-safely-on-comet-67p-9857162.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/rosetta-space-mission-philae-probe-lands-safely-on-comet-67p-9857162.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Rosetta space mission: Philae probe lands on Comet 67P |work=The Independent |first=Steve |last=Connor |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=11 August 2015}} that the harpoons had not deployed, and that the thruster had not fired.{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Dave |date=12 November 2014 |title=Philae touches down on the surface of a comet |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/12/world/comet-landing-countdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224043203/https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/12/world/comet-landing-countdown/ |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=12 November 2014 |work=CNN }}{{Cite magazine |last=Aron |first=Jacob |date=13 November 2014 |title=Problems hit Philae after historic first comet landing |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26547-problems-hit-philae-after-historic-first-comet-landing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930102707/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26547-problems-hit-philae-after-historic-first-comet-landing/ |archive-date=30 September 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |magazine=New Scientist }} The harpoon propulsion system contained 0.3 grams of nitrocellulose, which was shown by Copenhagen Suborbitals in 2013 to be unreliable in a vacuum.{{Cite news |last=Djursing |first=Thomas |date=13 November 2014 |title=ESA skrev til danske raketbyggere om eksplosiv-problem på Philae |trans-title=ESA wrote to Danish rocket builders about explosive problem on Philae |url=https://ing.dk/artikel/esa-skrev-til-danske-raketbyggere-om-eksplosiv-problem-paa-philae |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426233818/https://ing.dk/artikel/esa-skrev-til-danske-raketbyggere-om-eksplosiv-problem-paa-philae |archive-date=26 April 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=Ingeniøren |language=da }}

File:ESA Rosetta NAVCAM Agilkia landing site on comet 67P 20141106 mosaic.jpg

The primary battery was designed to power the instruments for about 60 hours. ESA expected that a secondary rechargeable battery would be partially filled by the solar panels attached to the outside of the lander, but the limited sunlight (90 minutes per 12.4-hour comet day) at the actual landing site was inadequate to maintain Philae{{'s}} activities, at least in this phase of the comet's orbit.{{Cite web |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Lakdawalla |date=13 November 2014 |title=Philae status, a day later |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/11131025-philae-status-a-day-later |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094838/https://www.planetary.org/articles/11131025-philae-status-a-day-later |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=14 November 2014 |publisher=The Planetary Society }}{{Cite news |last=Djursing |first=Thomas |date=13 November 2014 |title=Kometsonden Philae står skævt under en klippe og får for lidt sollys |trans-title=The comet probe Philae is tilted under a rock and receives too little sunlight |url=https://ing.dk/artikel/kometsonden-philae-staar-skaevt-under-en-klippe-og-faar-lidt-sollys |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112100339/https://ing.dk/artikel/kometsonden-philae-staar-skaevt-under-en-klippe-og-faar-lidt-sollys |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=14 November 2014 |work=Ingeniøren |language=da }}

On the morning of 14 November 2014, the battery charge was estimated to be only enough for continuing operations for the remainder of the day. After first obtaining data from instruments whose operation did not require mechanical movement, comprising about 80% of the planned initial science observations, both the MUPUS soil penetrator and the SD2 drill were commanded to deploy. Subsequently, MUPUS data{{Cite web |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Lakdawalla |date=14 November 2014 |title=Philae update: My last day in Darmstadt, possibly Philae's last day of operations |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/11141330-philae-update-my-last-day-in-darmstadt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094953/https://www.planetary.org/articles/11141330-philae-update-my-last-day-in-darmstadt |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=14 November 2014 |publisher=The Planetary Society }} as well as COSAC and Ptolemy data were returned. A final set of CONSERT data was also downlinked towards the end of operations. During the evening's transmission session, Philae was raised by {{convert|4|cm}} and its body rotated 35 degrees to more favourably position the largest solar panel to capture the most sunlight in the future.{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=15 November 2014 |title=Philae comet lander sends more data before losing power |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30058176 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120181130/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30058176 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=8 December 2014 |work=BBC News }}{{Cite web |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Lakdawalla |date=15 November 2014 |title=Now Philae down to sleep |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/20141115-now-philae-down-to-sleep |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203213414/https://www.planetary.org/articles/20141115-now-philae-down-to-sleep |archive-date=3 December 2023 |access-date=17 November 2014 |publisher=The Planetary Society }} Shortly afterwards, electrical power dwindled rapidly and all instruments were forced to shut down. The downlink rate slowed to a trickle before coming to a stop.{{Cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |date=15 November 2014 |title=Loss of contact with Philae |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2014/11/15/loss-of-contact-with-philae/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604032407/https://spaceflightnow.com/2014/11/15/loss-of-contact-with-philae/ |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=15 November 2014 |work=Spaceflight Now }} Contact was lost on 15 November at 00:36 UTC.{{Cite web |last=Scuka |first=Daniel |date=15 November 2014 |title=Our Lander's Asleep |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/15/our-landers-asleep/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222112906/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/15/our-landers-asleep/ |archive-date=22 December 2023 |access-date=15 November 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

The German Aerospace Center's lander manager Stephan Ulamec stated:

{{quote|Prior to falling silent, the lander was able to transmit all science data gathered during the First Science Sequence ... This machine performed magnificently under tough conditions, and we can be fully proud of the incredible scientific success Philae has delivered.}}

Data from the SESAME instrument determined that, rather than being "soft and fluffy" as expected, Philae{{'s}} first touchdown site held a large amount of water ice under a layer of granular material about {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}} deep.{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=30 July 2015 |title=Surprising Comet Discoveries by Rosetta's Philae Lander Unveiled |url=http://www.space.com/30100-comet-landing-discoveries-rosetta-philae-lander.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112100337/https://www.space.com/30100-comet-landing-discoveries-rosetta-philae-lander.html |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=31 July 2015 |work=Space.com }} It found that the mechanical strength of the ice was high and that cometary activity in that region was low. At the final landing site, the MUPUS instrument was unable to hammer very far into the comet's surface, despite power being gradually increased. This area was determined to have the consistency of solid ice{{Cite web |date=17 November 2014 |title=Churyumov-Gerasimenko – hard ice and organic molecules |url=https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2014/20141117_churyumov-gerasimenko-hard-ice-and-organic-molecules_12176/@@download/file |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222153056/https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2014/20141117_churyumov-gerasimenko-hard-ice-and-organic-molecules_12176/@@download/file |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=18 November 2014 |publisher=German Aerospace Center |type=PDF }}{{Cite news |last=Sinha |first=Kounteya |date=18 November 2014 |title=Philae reveals presence of large amount of water ice on the comet |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Philae-reveals-presence-of-large-amount-of-water-ice-on-the-comet/articleshow/45195549.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112100339/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/philae-reveals-presence-of-large-amount-of-water-ice-on-the-comet/articleshow/45195549.cms |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=18 November 2014 |work=The Times of India |agency=Times News Network }} or pumice.{{Cite magazine |last=Wendel |first=JoAnna |date=31 July 2015 |title=Comet Lander Makes a Hard Discovery |url=https://eos.org/articles/comet-lander-makes-a-hard-discovery |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027115440/https://eos.org/articles/comet-lander-makes-a-hard-discovery |archive-date=27 October 2023 |magazine=Eos |publisher=American Geophysical Union |volume=96 |doi=10.1029/2015EO033623 |doi-access=free }}

In the atmosphere of the comet, the COSAC instrument detected the presence of molecules containing carbon and hydrogen. Soil elements could not be assessed, because the lander was unable to drill into the comet surface, likely due to hard ice.{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Richard |date=19 November 2014 |title=Rosetta mission lander detects organic molecules on surface of comet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/nov/18/philae-lander-comet-surface-detects-organic-molecules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094834/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/nov/18/philae-lander-comet-surface-detects-organic-molecules |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=18 December 2014 |work=The Guardian }} The SD2 drill went through the necessary steps to deliver a surface sample to the COSAC instrument, but nothing entered the COSAC ovens.{{Cite tweet |first=Eric |last=Hand |number=534413817040867328 |user=erichand |title=COSAC PI: Drill tried to deliver sample. Ovens heated up. But data show no actual delivery. "There's nothing in it." #CometLanding |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=8 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612090813/https://twitter.com/erichand/status/534413817040867328 |archive-date=12 June 2015 |url-status=live }}

Upon Philae{{'s}} first touchdown on the comet's surface, COSAC measured material at the bottom of the vehicle, which was disturbed by the landing, while the Ptolemy instrument measured material at the top of the vehicle. Sixteen organic compounds were detected, four of which were seen for the first time on a comet, including acetamide, acetone, methyl isocyanate and propionaldehyde.{{Cite news |last=Jordans |first=Frank |date=30 July 2015 |title=Philae probe finds evidence that comets can be cosmic labs |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-a8c32853d364494ca482c8e3dc00ced0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222154017/https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-a8c32853d364494ca482c8e3dc00ced0 |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=30 July 2015 |work=Associated Press }}{{Cite press release |editor-last=Altobelli |editor-first=Nicolas |editor2-last=Bibring |editor2-first=Jean-Pierre |editor3-last=Ulamec |editor3-first=Stephan |date=30 July 2015 |title=Science on the Surface of a Comet |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Science_on_the_surface_of_a_comet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112110949/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Science_on_the_surface_of_a_comet |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=30 July 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }}{{Cite journal |last1=Bibring |first1=J.-P. |last2=Taylor |first2=M. G. G. T. |last3=Alexander |first3=C. |last4=Auster |first4=U. |last5=Biele |first5=J. |last6=Finzi |first6=A. Ercoli |last7=Goesmann |first7=F. |last8=Klingehoefer |first8=G. |last9=Kofman |first9=W. |last10=Mottola |first10=S. |last11=Seidenstiker |first11=K. J. |last12=Spohn |first12=T. |last13=Wright |first13=I. |display-authors=5 |date=31 July 2015 |title=Philae's First Days on the Comet |url=https://elib.dlr.de/97953/1/Science-2015-Bibring-493.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Science |volume=349 |issue=6247 |page=493 |bibcode=2015Sci...349..493B |doi=10.1126/science.aac5116 |pmid=26228139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113173750/https://elib.dlr.de/97953/1/Science-2015-Bibring-493.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2024 |doi-access=free }}

File:67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko - Rosetta (32755885495).png in March 2015 as imaged by Rosetta in true colour]]

On 13 June 2015 at 20:28 UTC, ground controllers received an 85-second transmission from Philae, forwarded by Rosetta, indicating that the lander was in good health and had sufficiently recharged its batteries to come out of safe mode.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=14 June 2015 |title=Rosetta's lander Philae wakes up from hibernation |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/14/rosettas-lander-philae-wakes-up-from-hibernation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209213105/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/14/rosettas-lander-philae-wakes-up-from-hibernation/ |archive-date=9 February 2024 |access-date=14 June 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }} Philae sent historical data indicating that although it had been operating earlier than 13 June 2015, it had been unable to contact Rosetta before that date. The lander reported that it was operating with 24 watts of electrical power at {{convert|-35|C|F|abbr=on}}.

A new contact between Rosetta and Philae was confirmed on 19 June 2015.{{Cite web |last=Mignone |first=Claudia |date=19 June 2015 |title=Rosetta and Philae in contact again |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/19/rosetta-and-philae-in-contact-again/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094847/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/19/rosetta-and-philae-in-contact-again/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=20 June 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }} The first signal was received on the ground from Rosetta at 13:37 UTC, while a second signal was received at 13:54 UTC. These contacts lasted about two minutes each and delivered additional status data. By 26 June 2015, there had been a total of seven intermittent contacts between the lander and orbiter.{{Cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=26 June 2015 |title=Rosetta and Philae: Searching for a good signal |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/26/rosetta-and-philae-searching-for-a-good-signal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120220619/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/26/rosetta-and-philae-searching-for-a-good-signal/ |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=26 June 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }} There were two opportunities for contact between the two spacecraft each Earth day, but their duration and quality depended on the orientation of the transmitting antenna on Philae and the location of Rosetta along its trajectory around the comet. Similarly, as the comet rotated, Philae was not always in sunlight and thus not always generating enough power via its solar panels to receive and transmit signals. ESA controllers continued to try to establish a stable contact duration of at least 50 minutes.

Had Philae landed at the planned site of Agilkia in November 2014, its mission would probably have ended in March 2015 due to the higher temperatures of that location as solar heating increased.{{Cite press release |date=15 June 2015 |title=Philae wake-up triggers intense planning |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Philae_wake-up_triggers_intense_planning |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112110956/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Philae_wake-up_triggers_intense_planning |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=16 June 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }} {{As of|2015|06}}, Philae{{'s}} key remaining experiment was to drill into the comet's surface to determine its chemical composition.{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=19 June 2015 |title=Comet lander Philae renews contact |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33206661 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094915/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33206661 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=19 June 2015 |work=BBC News }} Ground controllers sent commands to power up the CONSERT radar instrument on 5 July 2015, but received no immediate response from the lander. Confirmation was eventually received on 9 July, when the lander transmitted measurement data from the instrument.{{Cite press release |date=10 July 2015 |title=New communication with Philae – commands executed successfully |url=https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2015/20150710_new-communication-with-philae-commands-executed-successfully_14156 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222155032/https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2015/20150710_new-communication-with-philae-commands-executed-successfully_14156 |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=11 July 2015 |publisher=German Aerospace Center }}

Immediately after its reawakening, housekeeping data suggested that the lander's systems were healthy, and mission control uploaded commands for Rosetta to establish a new orbit and nadir so as to optimize communications, diagnostics, and enable new science investigations with Philae.{{Cite news |last=Moulson |first=Geir |date=15 June 2015 |title=Europe's comet lander makes 2nd contact after waking up |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article24398281.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222155546/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article24398281.html |archive-date=22 February 2024 |access-date=16 June 2015 |work=Miami Herald |agency=Associated Press }}{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=17 June 2015 |title=Controllers wait on Philae link |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33163835 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094838/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33163835 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=17 June 2015 |work=BBC News }} However, controllers had difficulties establishing a stable communications connection with the lander. The situation was not helped by the need to keep Rosetta at a greater and safer distance from the comet as it became more active.{{Cite news |date=29 June 2015 |title=Rosetta team struggles with Philae link |url=https://earthsky.org/space/rosetta-struggles-with-stable-philae-link/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094953/https://earthsky.org/space/rosetta-struggles-with-stable-philae-link/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=30 June 2015 |work=Earthsky }} The last communication was on 9 July 2015, and mission controllers were unable to instruct Philae to carry out new investigations.{{Cite news |last=Sutherland |first=Paul |date=14 August 2015 |title=Comet's fizzing all over during closest approach to the Sun |url=http://sen.com/news/comet-s-fizzing-all-over-during-closest-approach-to-the-sun |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822152511/http://sen.com/news/comet-s-fizzing-all-over-during-closest-approach-to-the-sun |archive-date=22 August 2015 |work=Space Exploration Network }}{{Cite news |last=Sutherland |first=Paul |date=20 July 2015 |title=Rosetta sends software patch to fix Philae |url=http://sen.com/news/rosetta-sends-software-patch-to-fix-philae |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822085720/http://sen.com/news/rosetta-sends-software-patch-to-fix-philae |archive-date=22 August 2015 |access-date=17 August 2015 |work=Space Exploration Network }} Subsequently, Philae failed to respond to further commands, and by January 2016, controllers acknowledged no further communications were likely.{{Cite magazine |last=Aron |first=Jacob |date=11 January 2016 |title=Philae lander fails to respond to last-ditch efforts to wake it |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28752-philae-lander-fails-to-respond-to-last-ditch-efforts-to-wake-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094853/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28752-philae-lander-fails-to-respond-to-last-ditch-efforts-to-wake-it/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=12 January 2016 |magazine=New Scientist }}

On 27 July 2016, at 09:00 UTC, ESA switched off the Electrical Support System Processor Unit (ESS) onboard Rosetta, making further communications with Philae impossible.{{Cite web |last=Mignone |first=Claudia |date=26 July 2016 |title=Farewell, silent Philae |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/07/26/farewell-silent-philae/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227033026/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/07/26/farewell-silent-philae/ |archive-date=27 December 2016 |access-date=29 July 2016 |publisher=European Space Agency }}{{Cite news |last=Gibney |first=Elizabeth |date=26 July 2016 |title=Philae comet lander goes quiet for good |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2016.20338.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020185024/https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2016.20338.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2022 |access-date=27 August 2016 |doi=10.1038/nature.2016.20338 |issn=1476-4687 |doi-access=free |journal=Nature }}

The lander was located on 2 September 2016 by the narrow-angle camera aboard Rosetta as it was slowly making its descent to the comet. The search for the lander had been on-going during the Rosetta mission, using telemetry data and comparison of pictures taken before and after the lander's touchdown, looking for signs of the lander's specific reflectivity.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Emily |date=11 June 2015 |title=The quest to find Philae |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/11/the-quest-to-find-philae-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212031440/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/06/11/the-quest-to-find-philae-2/ |archive-date=12 February 2024 |access-date=5 September 2016 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

The search area was narrowed down to the most promising candidate, which was confirmed by a picture taken at a distance of {{convert|2.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}, clearly showing the lander. The lander sits on its side wedged into a dark crevice of the comet, explaining the lack of electrical power and proper communication with the probe. Knowing its exact location provides information needed to put Philae{{'s}} two days of science into proper context.

File:Rosetta and Philae (crop).jpg

The lander was designed to deploy from the main spacecraft body and descend from an orbit of {{convert|22.5|km|0}} along a ballistic trajectory.{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=26 September 2014 |title=Rosetta: Date fixed for historic comet landing attempt |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29380448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120061628/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29380448 |archive-date=20 January 2024 |access-date=29 September 2014 |work=BBC News }} It would touch down on the comet's surface at a velocity of around {{convert|1|m/s|km/h mph}}.{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=25 August 2014 |title=Rosetta mission: Potential comet landing sites chosen |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28923010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094850/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28923010 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=25 August 2014 |work=BBC News }} The legs were designed to dampen the initial impact to avoid bouncing as the comet's escape velocity is only around {{convert|1|m/s|km/h mph|abbr=on}},{{Cite press release |last=Dambeck |first=Thorsten |date=20 January 2014 |title=Expedition to primeval matter |url=https://www.mpg.de/7769243/expedition-primeval_matter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040223/https://www.mpg.de/7769243/expedition-primeval_matter |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=19 September 2014 |publisher=Max Planck Society }} and the impact energy was intended to drive ice screws into the surface.{{Cite web |last=Böhnhardt |first=Hermann |date=10 November 2014 |title=About the Upcoming Philae Separation, Descent and Landing |url=https://www.mps.mpg.de/en/rosetta/philae-blog |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206104512/https://www.mps.mpg.de/en/rosetta/philae-blog |archive-date=6 December 2023 |access-date=11 November 2014 |publisher=Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research }} Philae was to then fire a harpoon into the surface at {{convert|70|m/s|km/h mph|abbr=on}} to anchor itself.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5YIPCbnTCeMC&pg=PA297 |chapter=The Strength of Cometary Surface Material: Relevance of Deep Impact Results for Philae Landing on a Comet |title=Deep Impact as a World Observatory Event: Synergies in Space, Time, and Wavelength |publisher=Springer |series=ESO Astrophysics Symposia |first1=J. |last1=Biele |first2=S. |last2=Ulamec |first3=L. |last3=Richter |first4=E. |last4=Kührt |first5=J. |last5=Knollenberg |first6=D. |last6=Möhlmann |editor1-first=Hans Ulrich |editor1-last=Käufl |editor2-first=Christiaan |editor2-last=Sterken |page=297 |year=2009 |isbn=978-3-540-76958-3 |bibcode=2009diwo.conf..285B |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-76959-0_38}}{{Cite conference |last1=Biele |first1=Jens |last2=Ulamec |first2=Stephan |date=March 2013 |title=Preparing for Landing on a Comet – The Rosetta Lander Philae |url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/1392.pdf |conference=44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference |location=The Woodlands, Texas |publisher=Lunar and Planetary Institute |bibcode=2013LPI....44.1392B |id=LPI Contribution No. 1719 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209023314/https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/1392.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2023 |conference-url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/ |url-status=live }} A thruster on top of Philae was to have fired to lessen the bounce upon impact and to reduce the recoil from harpoon firing.{{Cite news |last=Spotts |first=Pete |date=12 November 2014 |title=Will Philae successfully land on comet? Thruster trouble heightens drama |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/1112/Will-Philae-successfully-land-on-comet-Thruster-trouble-heightens-drama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094835/https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/1112/Will-Philae-successfully-land-on-comet-Thruster-trouble-heightens-drama |archive-date=12 November 2023 |work=The Christian Science Monitor }} During the landing, the harpoons did not fire and the thruster failed to operate, leading to a multiple-contact landing.

Communications with Earth used the Rosetta orbiter as a relay station to reduce the electrical power needed. The mission duration on the surface was planned to be at least one week, but an extended mission lasting months was considered possible.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The main structure of the lander is made from carbon fiber, shaped into a plate maintaining mechanical stability, a platform for the science instruments, and a hexagonal "sandwich" to connect all the parts. The total mass is about {{convert|100|kg|lb}}. Its exterior is covered with solar cells for power generation.

The Rosetta mission was originally planned to rendezvous with the comet 46P/Wirtanen. A failure in a previous Ariane 5 launch vehicle closed the launch window to reach the comet with the same rocket.{{Cite web |title=Why was 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko selected as the target comet instead of Wirtanen? |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Frequently_asked_questions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217150512/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Frequently_asked_questions |archive-date=17 February 2024 |access-date=24 November 2014 |website=Rosetta's Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=European Space Agency |quote=The other options, including a launch to Wirtanen in 2004, would have required a more powerful launch vehicle, either an Ariane 5 ECA or a Proton. }} It resulted in a change in target to the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The larger mass of Churyumov–Gerasimenko and the resulting increased impact velocity required that the landing gear of the lander be strengthened.{{Cite web |date=14 November 2014 |title=Highlights from the Rosetta mission thus far |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/rosetta/-/54456-highlights-from-the-rosetta-mission-thus-far |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222185945/https://sci.esa.int/web/rosetta/-/54456-highlights-from-the-rosetta-mission-thus-far |archive-date=22 December 2023 |access-date=6 July 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

Philae{{'s}} power management was planned for two phases. In the first phase, the lander operated solely on battery power. In the second phase, it was to run on backup batteries recharged by solar cells.

The power subsystem comprises two batteries: a non-rechargeable primary 1000 watt-hour battery to provide power for the first 60 hours and a secondary 140 watt-hour battery recharged by the solar panels to be used after the primary is exhausted. The solar panels cover {{convert|2.2|m2|sqft}} and were designed to deliver up to 32 watts at a distance of 3 AU from the Sun.

File:Atterrisseur-Philae-15494442575 099c1ff083 o.png

The science payload of the lander consists of ten instruments totalling {{convert|26.7|kg|lb}}, making up just over one quarter of the mass of the lander.

; APXS

:The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer detects alpha particles and X-rays, which provide information on the elemental composition of the comet's surface.{{Cite web |title=APXS |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/APXS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811092159/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/APXS |archive-date=11 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} The instrument is an improved version of the APXS on the Mars Pathfinder.

; CIVA

:The Comet Nucleus Infrared and Visible Analyser{{cite journal |last1=Bibring |first1=Jean-Pierre |last2=Lamy |first2=P |last3=Langevin |first3=Y |last4=Souufflot |first4=A |last5=Berthé |first5=J |last6=Borg |first6=J |last7=Poulet |first7=F |last8=Mottola |first8=S |title=CIVA |journal=Space Science Reviews |date=2007 |volume=138 |issue=1–4 |pages=397–412 |doi=10.1007/s11214-006-9135-5 |bibcode=2007SSRv..128..397B }} (sometimes given as ÇIVA{{cite journal |title=Capabilities of Philae, the Rosetta Lander |journal=Space Science Reviews |first1=J. |last1=Biele |first2=S. |last2=Ulamec |volume=138 |issue=1–4 |pages=275–289 |date=July 2008 |doi=10.1007/s11214-007-9278-z|bibcode=2008SSRv..138..275B |s2cid=120594802 }}) is a group of seven identical cameras used to take panoramic pictures of the surface plus a visible-light microscope and an infrared spectrometer. The panoramic cameras (CIVA-P) are arranged on the sides of the lander at 60° intervals: five mono imagers and two others making up a stereo imager. Each camera has a 1024×1024 pixel CCD detector.{{Cite web |title=Comet nucleus Infrared and Visible Analyser (CIVA) |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=2004-006C-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094834/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=2004-006C-01 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=15 November 2014 |publisher=National Space Science Data Center |id=2004-006C-01 }} The microscope and spectrometer (CIVA-M) are mounted on the base of the lander, and are used to analyse the composition, texture and albedo (reflectivity) of samples collected from the surface.{{Cite web |title=ÇIVA |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/CIVA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023122558/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/CIVA |archive-date=23 October 2022 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

; CONSERT

:The Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission used electromagnetic wave propagation to determine the comet's internal structure. A radar on Rosetta transmitted a signal through the nucleus to be received by a detector on Philae.{{cite journal |title=The Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission (CONSERT): A Short Description of the Instrument and of the Commissioning Stages |journal=Space Science Reviews |first1=W. |last1=Kofman |first2=A. |last2=Herique |first3=J.-P. |last3=Goutail |first4=T. |last4=Hagfors |first5=I. P. |last5=Williams |first6=E. |last6=Nielsen |first7=J.-P. |last7=Barriot |first8=Y. |last8=Barbin |first9=C. |last9=Elachi |first10=P. |last10=Edenhofer |first11=A.-C. |last11=Levasseur-Regourd |first12=D. |last12=Plettemeier |first13=G. |last13=Picardi |first14=R. |last14=Seu |first15=V. |last15=Svedhem |display-authors=5 |volume=128 |issue=1–4 |pages=413–432 |date=February 2007 |doi=10.1007/s11214-006-9034-9 |bibcode=2007SSRv..128..413K|s2cid=122123636 }}{{Cite web |title=CONSERT |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/CONSERT2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113191937/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/CONSERT2 |archive-date=13 January 2024 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

; COSAC

:The Cometary Sampling and Composition instrument is a combined gas chromatograph and time-of-flight mass spectrometer to perform analysis of soil samples and determine the content of volatile components.{{cite journal |title=COSAC Onboard Rosetta: A Bioastronomy Experiment for the Short-Period Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko |journal=Astrobiology |first1=Fred |last1=Goesmann |first2=Helmut |last2=Rosenbauer |first3=Reinhard |last3=Roll |first4=Hermann |last4=Böhnhardt |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=622–631 |date=October 2005 |doi=10.1089/ast.2005.5.622 |bibcode=2005AsBio...5..622G |pmid=16225435}}{{Cite web |title=COSAC |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/COSAC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024120351/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/COSAC |archive-date=24 October 2022 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

; MUPUS

:The Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science instrument measured the density, thermal and mechanical properties of the comet's surface.{{Cite web |title=MUPUS |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/MUPUS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818025511/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/MUPUS |archive-date=18 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

; Ptolemy

:An instrument measuring stable isotope ratios of key volatiles on the comet's nucleus.{{cite journal |title=Ptolemy: An Instrument to Measure Stable Isotopic Ratios of Key Volatiles on a Cometary Nucleus |journal=Space Science Reviews |first1=I. P. |last1=Wright |first2=S. J. |last2=Barber |first3=G. H. |last3=Morgan |first4=A. D. |last4=Morse |first5=S. |last5=Sheridan |first6=D. J. |last6=Andrews |first7=J. |last7=Maynard |first8=D. |last8=Yau |first9=S. T. |last9=Evans |first10=M. R. |last10=Leese |first11=J. C. |last11=Zarnecki |first12=B. J. |last12=Kent |first13=N. R. |last13=Waltham |first14=M. S. |last14=Whalley |first15=S. |last15=Heys |first16=D. L. |last16=Drummond |first17=R. L. |last17=Edeson |first18=E. C. |last18=Sawyer |first19=R. F. |last19=Turner |first20=C. T. |last20=Pillinger |display-authors=5 |volume=128 |issue=1–4 |pages=363–381 |date=February 2007 |doi=10.1007/s11214-006-9001-5 |bibcode=2007SSRv..128..363W|s2cid=120458462 }}{{Cite conference |last1=Andrews |first1=D. J. |last2=Barber |first2=S. J. |last3=Morse |first3=A. D. |last4=Sheridan |first4=S. |last5=Wright |first5=I. P. |last6=Morgan |first6=G. H. |display-authors=5 |date=March 2006 |title=Ptolemy: An Instrument aboard the Rosetta Lander Philae, to Unlock the Secrets of the Solar System |url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2006/pdf/1937.pdf |conference=37th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference |location=League City, Texas |publisher=Lunar and Planetary Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094835/https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2006/pdf/1937.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2023 |conference-url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2006/ |url-status=live }} Parts of the instrument were manufactured by the Special Techniques Group at UKAEA.{{cite web |url=http://techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu/index.php/success-story-8/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608160225/http://techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu/index.php/success-story-8/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |title=Eurofusion Ptolemy acknowledgement |publisher=EUROfusion |access-date=10 November 2023}}

; ROLIS

:The Rosetta Lander Imaging System is a CCD camera used to obtain high-resolution images during descent and stereo panoramic images of areas sampled by other instruments.{{Cite web |title=ROLIS |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/ROLIS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025091928/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/ROLIS |archive-date=25 October 2022 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} The CCD detector consists of 1024×1024 pixels.{{cite web |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=PHILAE%20%20%20-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921153032/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentDisplay.do?id=PHILAE%20%20%20-02 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2008 |title=Rosetta Lander Imaging System (ROLIS) |publisher=National Space Science Data Center |access-date=28 August 2014}}

; ROMAP

:The Rosetta Lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor is a magnetometer and plasma sensor to study the nucleus' magnetic field and its interactions with the solar wind.{{Cite web |title=ROMAP |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/ROMAP |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024120353/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/ROMAP |archive-date=24 October 2022 |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

; SD2

:The Sampling, Drilling and Distribution system obtains soil samples from the comet and transfers them to the Ptolemy, COSAC, and CIVA instruments for in-situ analysis.{{Cite web |last=Di Lizia |first=Pierluigi |date=9 April 2014 |title=Introducing SD2: Philae's Sampling, Drilling and Distribution instrument |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/04/09/introducing-sd2-philaes-sampling-drilling-and-distribution-instrument/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425165417/https://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/04/09/introducing-sd2-philaes-sampling-drilling-and-distribution-instrument/ |archive-date=25 April 2023 |access-date=24 December 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }} SD2 contains four primary subsystems: drill, ovens, carousel, and volume checker.{{Cite web |title=Philae SD2 |url=http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810095421/http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/ |archive-date=10 August 2014 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Politecnico di Milano }}{{Cite conference |last1=Marchesi |first1=M. |last2=Campaci |first2=R. |last3=Magnani |first3=P. |last4=Mugnuolo |first4=R. |last5=Nista |first5=A. |last6=Olivier |first6=A. |last7=Re |first7=E. |display-authors=5 |date=September 2001 |title=Comet sample acquisition for ROSETTA lander mission |url=https://www.esmats.eu/esmatspapers/pastpapers/pdfs/2001/marchesi.pdf |conference=9th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium |location=Liège, Belgium |publisher=European Space Agency |bibcode=2001ESASP.480...91M |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223071816/https://www.esmats.eu/esmatspapers/pastpapers/pdfs/2001/marchesi.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2024 |conference-url=https://www.esmats.eu/esmatspapers/completelist.php?whichYear=2001 |url-status=live }} The drill system, made of steel and titanium, is capable of drilling to a depth of {{convert|230|mm|abbr=on}}, deploying a probe to collect samples, and delivering samples to the ovens.{{Cite web |title=Drill Box |url=http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Drill_Box |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813061742/http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Drill_Box |archive-date=13 August 2014 |access-date=24 December 2014 |publisher=Politecnico di Milano }} There are a total of 26 platinum ovens to heat samples—10 medium temperature ovens at {{convert|180|C|F}} and 16 high temperature ovens at {{convert|800|C|F}}—and one oven to clear the drill bit for reuse.{{Cite web |title=Ovens |url=http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Ovens |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205838/http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Ovens |archive-date=12 August 2014 |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Politecnico di Milano }} The ovens are mounted on a rotating carousel that delivers the active oven to the appropriate instrument.{{Cite web |title=Carousel |url=http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Carousel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813015641/http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Carousel |archive-date=13 August 2014 |access-date=24 December 2014 |publisher=Politecnico di Milano }} The electromechanical volume checker determines how much material was deposited into an oven, and may be used to evenly distribute material on CIVA's optical windows.{{Cite web |title=Volume Checker |url=http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Volume_Checker |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813021610/http://www.aero.polimi.it/SD2/?SD2:System_Overview:Volume_Checker |archive-date=13 August 2014 |access-date=24 December 2014 |publisher=Politecnico di Milano }} Development of SD2 was led by the Italian Space Agency with contributions by prime contractor Tecnospazio S.p.A. (now Selex ES S.p.A.) in charge of the system design and overall integration; the Italian company Tecnomare S.p.A., owned by Eni S.p.A., in charge of the design, development, and testing of the drilling/sampling tool and the volume checker; Media Lario; and Dallara. The instrument's principal investigator is Amalia Ercoli-Finzi (Politecnico di Milano).{{Cite news |date=12 November 2014 |title=Rosetta, anche l'Italia sbarca sulla cometa |url=https://www.repubblica.it/scienze/2014/11/12/news/e_anche_l_italia_sbarca_sulla_cometa-100393267/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094836/https://www.repubblica.it/scienze/2014/11/12/news/e_anche_l_italia_sbarca_sulla_cometa-100393267/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=24 December 2014 |work=La Repubblica |language=it }}

; SESAME

:The Surface Electric Sounding and Acoustic Monitoring Experiments used three instruments to measure properties of the comet's outer layers. The Cometary Acoustic Sounding Surface Experiment (CASSE) measures the way in which sound travels through the surface. The Permittivity Probe (PP) investigates its electrical characteristics, and the Dust Impact Monitor (DIM) measures dust falling back to the surface.{{cite journal |title=Sesame – An Experiment of the Rosetta Lander Philae: Objectives and General Design |journal=Space Science Reviews |first1=K. J. |last1=Seidensticker |first2=D. |last2=Möhlmann |first3=I. |last3=Apathy |first4=W. |last4=Schmidt |first5=K. |last5=Thiel |first6=W. |last6=Arnold |first7=H.-H. |last7=Fischer |first8=M. |last8=Kretschmer |first9=D. |last9=Madlener |first10=A. |last10=Péter |first11=R. |last11=Trautner |first12=S. |last12=Schieke |display-authors=5 |volume=128 |issue=1–4 |pages=301–337 |date=February 2007 |doi=10.1007/s11214-006-9118-6 |bibcode=2007SSRv..128..301S|s2cid=119567565 }}

On 28 October 2020, it was reported that Philae had discovered, among other things, "low-strength primitive ice inside cometary boulders." This also included primitive water ice from the comet's estimated formation 4.5 billion years prior. This occurred primarily at the site of Philae's second touchdown onto the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, where the spacecraft successfully produced four distinct surface contacts on two adjoining cometary boulders. Philae was also able to drill {{convert|25|cm|in}} into the comet's boulder ice.

;Austria

:The Austrian Space Research Institute developed the lander's anchor and two sensors within MUPUS, which are integrated into the anchor tips.{{Cite web |date=8 June 2014 |title=Rosetta |url=http://www.iwf.oeaw.ac.at/index.php?id=169&L=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091157/http://www.iwf.oeaw.ac.at/index.php?id=169&L=1 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=1 December 2014 |publisher=Institut für Weltraumforschung |language=de }}

;Belgium

:The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA) cooperated with different partners to build one of the sensors (DFMS) of the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) instrument.{{Cite news |last=Christiaens |first=Kris |date=6 November 2014 |title=België mee aan boord van Rosetta kometenjager |url=https://www.belgiuminspace.be/nieuws/ruimtevaartprojecten/belgie-mee-aan-boord-van-rosetta-kometenjager |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130135709/https://www.belgiuminspace.be/nieuws/ruimtevaartprojecten/belgie-mee-aan-boord-van-rosetta-kometenjager |archive-date=30 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=Belgium in Space |language=nl }}{{Cite news |last=Christiaens |first=Kris |date=19 July 2009 |title=Rosetta |url=https://www.belgiuminspace.be/artikelen/ruimtevaartprojecten/planetaire-missies/rosetta |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094837/https://www.belgiuminspace.be/artikelen/ruimtevaartprojecten/planetaire-missies/rosetta |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=Belgium in Space |language=nl }} The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA) and Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) provided information about the space weather conditions at Rosetta to support the landing of Philae. The main concern was solar proton events.{{Cite web |last=Scuka |first=Daniel |date=12 November 2014 |title=Space weather report for Rosetta |url=https://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2014/11/12/space-weather-report-for-rosetta/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112155443/https://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2014/11/12/space-weather-report-for-rosetta/ |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=19 November 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency }}

;Canada

:Two Canadian companies played a role in the mission. SED Systems, located on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, built three ground stations that were used to communicate with the Rosetta spacecraft.{{Cite news |date=13 November 2014 |title=Two Canadian Firms Play Small but Key Roles in Comet Landing |url=http://www.macleans.ca/uncategorized/two-canadian-firms-play-small-but-key-roles-in-comet-landing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201072219/http://www.macleans.ca/uncategorized/two-canadian-firms-play-small-but-key-roles-in-comet-landing/ |archive-date=1 December 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014 |publisher=Maclean's |agency=The Canadian Press }} ADGA-RHEA Group of Ottawa provided MOIS (Manufacturing and Operating Information Systems) software which supported the procedures and command sequences operations software.{{cite press release |url=http://www.adga.ca/rosetta/en/media-release.html |title=Rosetta "The Comet Chaser" – The Canadian Connection |publisher=ADGA Group |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033002/http://www.adga.ca/rosetta/en/media-release.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}

;Finland

:The Finnish Meteorological Institute provided the memory of the Command, Data and Management System (CDMS) and the Permittivity Probe (PP).{{Cite press release |date=12 November 2014 |title=Lander successfully touches down on the comet surface |url=https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/press-release/29239004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123141226/http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/press-release/29239004 |archive-date=23 November 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014 |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute }}

;France

:The French Space Agency, in collaboration with various French scientific institutes (IAS, SA, LPG, LISA), provided the system's overall engineering, radiocommunications, battery assembly, CONSERT, CIVA and the ground segment (overall engineering and development/operation of the Scientific Operation & Navigation Centre).

;Germany

:The German Space Agency (DLR) has provided the structure, thermal subsystem, flywheel, the Active Descent System (procured by DLR but made in Switzerland),{{cite web |url=http://www.moog.com/literature/Space_Defense/Spacecraft/Propulsion/active_descent_system.pdf |title=Active Descent System |publisher=Moog Inc. |access-date=11 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112012855/http://www.moog.com/literature/Space_Defense/Spacecraft/Propulsion/active_descent_system.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} ROLIS, downward-looking camera, SESAME, acoustic sounding and seismic instrument for Philae. It has also managed the project and did the level product assurance. The University of Münster built MUPUS (it was designed and built in Space Research Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences) and the Braunschweig University of Technology the ROMAP instrument. The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research made the payload engineering, eject mechanism, landing gear, anchoring harpoon, central computer, COSAC, APXS and other subsystems. The institute has led development and construction of COSAC and DIM, a part of SESAME, as well as contributed to the deveplopment and construction of ROMAP.{{Cite web |title=MPS-Beteiligungen |url=https://www.mps.mpg.de/rosetta/mps-beteiligungen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094839/https://www.mps.mpg.de/rosetta/mps-beteiligungen |archive-date=12 November 2023 |publisher=Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |language=de }}

;Hungary

:The Command and Data Management Subsystem (CDMS) designed in the Wigner Research Centre for Physics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences jointly with the Space and Ground Facilities Ltd. (a spin-off company of the Wigner Research Centre for Physics).{{cite web|url=http://wigner.mta.hu/node/934 |title=12 November, 2014 A Space Probe landed on the Surface of a Comet for the first time in Space Research |publisher=Wigner Research Centre for Physics |date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235908/http://wigner.mta.hu/node/934 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=CDMS |url=http://www.sgf.hu/newsgfweb3_005.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228004545/http://www.sgf.hu/newsgfweb3_005.htm |archive-date=28 December 2023 |access-date=31 January 2017 |publisher=SGF Ltd. }} The Power Subsystem (PSS) designed in the Department of Broadband Infocommunications and Electromagnetic Theory at Budapest University of Technology and Economics.{{cite web|url=http://hvt.bme.hu/srg/references.html |title=References |publisher=Space Research Group |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223021/http://hvt.bme.hu/srg/references.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} CDMS is the fault tolerant central computer of the lander, while PSS assures that the power coming from the batteries and solar arrays are properly handled, controls battery charging and manages the onboard power distribution.

;Ireland

:Captec Ltd., based in Malahide, provided the independent validation of mission critical software (independent software validation facility or SVF){{Cite web |date=24 June 2014 |title=Industrial Involvement in the Rosetta Mission |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/rosetta/-/54180-industrial-involvement-in-the-rosetta-mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204232846/https://sci.esa.int/web/rosetta/-/54180-industrial-involvement-in-the-rosetta-mission |archive-date=4 December 2023 |access-date=7 February 2015 |publisher=European Space Agency }} and developed the software for the communications interface between the orbiter and the lander. Captec also provided engineering support to the prime contractor for the launch activities at Kourou.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2014 |title=Comet chaser 'Rosetta' has technology from 2 Irish companies on board |url=http://newsletter.enterprise-ireland.com/1k4c98by6fv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094836/http://newsletter.enterprise-ireland.com/1k4c98by6fv |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=7 February 2015 |publisher=Enterprise Ireland }}{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/player/2014/0120/20509021-captecs-fred-kennedy-explains-its-role-in-the-rosetta-project/ |title=CAPTEC's Fred Kennedy explains its role in the Rosetta Project |publisher=RTE News |date=20 January 2014 |access-date=7 February 2014}} Space Technology Ireland Ltd. at Maynooth University has designed, constructed and tested the Electrical Support System Processor Unit (ESS) for the Rosetta mission. ESS stores, transmits and provides decoding for the command streams passing from the spacecraft to the lander and handles the data streams coming back from the scientific experiments on the lander to the spacecraft.{{Cite press release |date=12 November 2014 |title=Maynooth University scientists play key role in historic Rosetta mission |url=https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/maynooth-university-scientists-play-key-role-historic-rosetta-mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094926/https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/maynooth-university-scientists-play-key-role-historic-rosetta-mission |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=20 November 2014 |publisher=Maynooth University }}

;Italy

:The Italian Space Agency (ASI) developed the SD2 instrument and the photovoltaic assembly. Italian Alenia Space was involved in the assembly, integration and testing of the probe, as well as several mechanical and electrical ground support equipment. The company also built the probe's S-band and X-band digital transponder, used for communications with Earth.{{Cite press release |date=13 November 2014 |title=Rosetta Mission: Italy's decisive technological contribution |url=http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Sala_Stampa/ArchivioNotizie/Approfondimenti/2014/11/20141113_missrosetta.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129073612/http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Sala_Stampa/ArchivioNotizie/Approfondimenti/2014/11/20141113_missrosetta.htm |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014 |publisher=Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation }}

;Netherlands

:Moog Bradford (Heerle, The Netherlands) provided the Active Descent System, which guided and propelled the lander down to its landing zone. To accomplish the ADS, a strategic industrial team was formed with Bleuler-Baumer Mechanik in Switzerland.

;Poland

:The Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences built the Multi-Purpose Sensors for Surface and Subsurface Science (MUPUS).{{cite web |url=http://mechatronics.cbk.waw.pl/en/projects/the-mupus-instrument-for-rosetta-mission-to-comet-churyumov-gerasimenko |title=The MUPUS Instrument for Rosetta mission to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko |publisher=Laboratorium Mechatroniki i Robotyki Satelitarnej |year=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102201326/http://mechatronics.cbk.waw.pl/en/projects/the-mupus-instrument-for-rosetta-mission-to-comet-churyumov-gerasimenko |archive-date=2 January 2014}}

;Spain

:The GMV Spanish division has been responsible for the maintenance of the calculation tools to calculate the criteria of lighting and visibility necessary to decide the point of landing on the comet, as well as the possible trajectories of decline of the Philae module. Other important Spanish companies or educational institutions that have been contributed are as follows: INTA, Airbus Defence and Space Spanish division, other small companies also participated in subcontracted packages in structural mechanics and thermal control like AASpace (former Space Contact),{{cite web |url=http://www.aaspace.eu |title=Presentación de PowerPoint – Space Activities |publisher=AASpace}} and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.{{Cite news |date=13 November 2014 |title=Tecnología española para aterrizar sobre un cometa |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2014/11/12/tecnologia/1415814340_850362.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094916/https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2014/11/12/tecnologia/1415814340_850362.html |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=11 November 2014 |work=Cinco Días |language=it }}

;Switzerland

:The Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology developed CIVA.{{cite web |url=http://www.space-x.ch/?page_id=216 |title=CIVA Project |year=2014 |access-date=7 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107225909/http://www.space-x.ch/?page_id=216 |archive-date=7 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}

;United Kingdom

:The Open University and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) developed PTOLEMY. RAL also constructed the blankets that kept the lander warm throughout its mission. Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd. (SSTL) constructed the momentum wheel for the lander. It stabilised the module during the descent and landing phases. Manufacturer e2v supplied the CIVA and Rolis camera systems used to film the descent and take images of samples, as well as three other camera systems.{{Cite news |last=Tovey |first=Alan |date=11 November 2014 |title=UK space industry behind Rosetta comet mission |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11221945/UK-space-industry-behind-Rosetta-comet-mission.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211114512/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11221945/UK-space-industry-behind-Rosetta-comet-mission.html |archive-date=11 December 2023 |newspaper=The Telegraph }}

The landing was featured heavily in social media, with the lander having an official Twitter account portraying a personification of the spacecraft. The hashtag "#CometLanding" gained widespread traction. A Livestream of the control centres was set up, as were multiple official and unofficial events around the world to follow Philae{{'s}} landing on Churyumov–Gerasimenko.{{Cite press release |date=12 November 2014 |title=Live updates: Rosetta mission comet landing |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Live_updates_Rosetta_mission_comet_landing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601003904/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Live_updates_Rosetta_mission_comet_landing |archive-date=1 June 2023 |publisher=European Space Agency }}{{Cite press release |date=16 October 2014 |title=Call for Media Opportunities to follow Rosetta mission's historic comet landing |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Call_for_Media_Opportunities_to_follow_Rosetta_mission_s_historic_comet_landing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094844/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta/Call_for_Media_Opportunities_to_follow_Rosetta_mission_s_historic_comet_landing |archive-date=12 November 2023 |publisher=European Space Agency }} Various instruments on Philae were given their own Twitter accounts to announce news and science results.{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Patrick |date=13 November 2014 |title=Rosetta comet: One giant leap for Europe (not Nasa) |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30035699 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112094853/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30035699 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=BBC News }}

Vangelis composed the music for the trio of music videos released by ESA to celebrate the first-ever attempted soft landing on a comet by ESA's Rosetta mission.{{YouTube |FJrUnzLsmZk |"Arrival" by Vangelis}}{{YouTube |W8bVOGN9jSg |"Philae's journey" by Vangelis}}{{YouTube |PUpSVxoCcik |"Rosetta's waltz" by Vangelis}}

On 12 November 2014, the search engine Google featured a Google Doodle of Philae on its home page.{{Cite news |last=Solon |first=Olivia |date=12 November 2014 |title=Philae: Google Doodle marks Rosetta's historic comet landing |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/philae-google-doodle-marks-rosettas-4617416 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113044743/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/philae-google-doodle-marks-rosettas-4617416 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |access-date=12 November 2014 |work=Daily Mirror }} On 31 December 2014, Google featured Philae again as part of its New Year's Eve 2014 Doodle.{{Cite news |last=Mukherjee |first=Trisha |date=31 December 2014 |title=Google doodle wraps up year in animated '2014 trending topics' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/google-doodle-deflects-from-party-tradition-this-new-years-eve-its-2014-trending-topics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123053508/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/technology-others/google-doodle-deflects-from-party-tradition-this-new-years-eve-its-2014-trending-topics/ |archive-date=23 November 2023 |access-date=30 January 2015 |work=The Indian Express }}

Online comic author Randall Munroe wrote a live updating strip on his website xkcd on the day of the landing.{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Munroe |author-link=Randall Munroe |date=12 November 2014 |title=Landing |url=https://xkcd.com/1446/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211234100/https://xkcd.com/1446/ |archive-date=11 February 2024 |access-date=22 January 2014 |website=xkcd |id=1446 }}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Lauren |date=12 November 2014 |title=xkcd Animates The Philae Comet Landing—And It's Adorable |url=https://gizmodo.com/xkcd-animates-the-philae-comet-landing-and-its-adorable-1658135493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224171518/https://gizmodo.com/xkcd-animates-the-philae-comet-landing-and-its-adorable-1658135493 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=13 September 2015 |work=gizmodo }}

{{portal|Spaceflight}}

• Hayabusa
• MASCOT, DLR-CNES mini asteroid lander
• MINERVA
• NEAR Shoemaker
• OSIRIS-REx
• Timeline of Rosetta spacecraft

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal |url=http://www.open.ac.uk/personalpages/a.j.ball/publications/online/capcom.html |title=Rosetta Lander |journal=CapCom |first=Andrew J. |last=Ball |volume=8 |issue=2 |date=November 1997}}
• {{cite conference |url=http://www.planetaryprobe.eu/IPPW7/proceedings/IPPW7%20Proceedings/Presentations/Session7B/pr395.pdf |title=From the Rosetta Lander Philae to an Asteroid Hopper: Lander Concepts For Small Bodies Missions |conference=7th International Planetary Probe Workshop. 14–18 June 2010. Barcelona, Spain. |first1=S. |last1=Ulamec |first2=J. |last2=Biele |date=January 2006}}

{{Commons category|Philae (spacecraft)}}

• [http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/ Rosetta mission website] by the European Space Agency
• [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-006C Philae entry] at the National Space Science Data Center
• [http://www.mps.mpg.de/3053813/Philae-Blog Philae blog] at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
• [https://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/data_sb/missions/rosetta/index.shtml Rosetta Lander Mission Data Archive] at the NASA Planetary Data System, Small Bodies Node

;Media

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-77-Z_DHTlY The working of... Philae, the comet lander] by the German Aerospace Center
• [http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/11/Rosetta_landing_on_a_comet Rosetta: landing on a comet] by the European Space Agency
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157649192589446/ ESA's Philae landing gallery] at Flickr.com

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Category:Attached spacecraft

Category:Landers (spacecraft)

Category:Derelict landers (spacecraft)

Category:Space probes launched in 2004

Category:Articles containing video clips