comet exploration, organic molecules

German scientists have revealed that the Philae comet exploration has revealed organic molecules, and these molecules contain carbon. This carbon element is believed to be the basis of all life on earth, but the battery of the comet lander ran out of energy soon after so further exploration was not possible. The scientists have not determined whether the organic molecules discovered on the comet include complex compounds which are needed to create proteins though. One of the main mission goals was to determine whether the carbon based compounds on earth were brought here by comets in the past, and the comet lander spent 10 years in space before reaching the final destination of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Once on the comet the lander performed 57 hours of comet exploration before the battery shut down and the mission ended.

Comet exploration helps scientists understand many things about the earth, and possibly about how life started on our planet many years ago. Comets can contain organic materials from millions of years ago and this can help researchers and scientists see what the environment was like during that time period. The Philae comet lander has an instrument called a COSAC gas analyzer, and this tool can analyze the atmosphere and determine whether organic molecules are present. Some comets have contained organic molecules from millions of years ago, and these molecules are extremely well preserved. Another tool on the comet lander was the MUPUS, which was used to measure several comet surface variables including density, and also mechanical and thermal properties of the material.