Esa announces to “Philae” - harpoons to malfunctioning

Cologne/Darmstadt - one of the most difficult maneuvers in the history of space seemed turned out well already: The space probe “Philae” landed Tschuri on the comet 67P/Tschurjumow-Gerassimenko, briefly. The confirmation came on Wednesday around 17 o'clock by radio. “Philaes” first photos of the surface of the heavenly body are to arrive around 19 o'clock on earth.

But then uncertainty arose over the condition of the probe. Immediately after receipt of the first radio signals had Stephan Ulamec, Projektleiter of the Landers “Philae”, nor explained, both the harpoons and the three screws at the legs of the apparatus would planned have functioned as. One hour later however explained the technical manager of the “Philae” - landing teams, Koen Geurts, the two harpoons had not been fired because of a technical problem.

The scientists in Cologne are at present busy with the analysis of the data, said DLR spokesman Andreas Schütz. At present one cannot say, when results would be present. On the video images from the control room one sees however nearly only thoughtful faces. The initial euphoria passed.