European scientists launched a probe from spaceship Rosetta on Wednesday in an attempt to examine the surface of a comet,
The seven-hour descent that the most nail-biting phase of a ten-year mission, according to the European Space Agency.
Overcoming technical issues, the ESA craft jettisoned its lander on schedule to collect samples from the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which it has been orbiting since August.
"Now it's up to gravity to bring it down," Stefan Ulamec, Lander Manager from German Aerospace Center DLR, said, according to Reuters.
The lander, named Philae, will analyze material that will help researchers learn more about how Earth and other planets formed.
We already know that comets are remnants of the formation of the 4.6-billion-year-old solar system. What we don't know for sure is if they brought most of the water found in today's oceans to Earth or not.
The launch went ahead despite issues with the thruster that was supposed to help stop the lander from bouncing off the comet's surface, which means it may have to use its harpoons to anchor it.
"There were various problems with the preparation activities overnight but we have decided to go. Rosetta is lined up for separation," Paolo Ferri, ESA's head of mission operations, said before the launch, according to Reuters.
The team had to send out the three-legged lander at exactly the right time and speed since there is no way to control it on its descent.
Mission control linked back up with both Rosetta and Philae as expected after a period out of radio contact, the ESA said.
Engineers designed the lander not knowing what kind of terrain they'd find on the comet's surface. Rosetta has been busy taking pictures of the comet and collecting samples from its atmosphere as it reaches the sun. It showed the comet isn't as smooth as originally hoped.
The probe needs to land somewhere that isn't too dark or dusty so that light can reach its solar panels and power instruments when its batteries run out after two and half days, according to Reuters.
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