Spacecraft Rosetta's comet chase nearly over: rough touchdown expected

By Nicky Phillips
Updated November 12 2014 - 2:03pm, first published 11:34am
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
At touchdown, ice screws and harpoons will lock Philae to the comet's surface. Photo: ESA
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta's camera takes an image of the site where its lander, Philae, will attempt to touchdown. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae
Rosetta takes a selfie with comet-67P in the background. Photo: ESA/Rosetta/Philae

After more than 10 years chasing a comet through deep space, the spacecraft Rosetta will on Wednesday night attempt one of its greatest feats - to drop a small lander on the comet's surface.

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