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Sound recorded by instrument in lander’s feet
The Associated Press Posted: Nov 20, 2014 10:09 AM ET Last Updated: Nov 20, 2014 10:10 AM ET
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Scientists have released a brief recording of the sound that Europe’s space probe Philae made when it became the first to land on a comet last week.
The two-second recording features a short, sharp thud as the lander touched down about 311 million miles (500 million kilometers) from Earth on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s icy surface.
Philae lander’s touchdown sound0:02
Martin Knapmeyer of the German Aerospace Center, DLR, said Thursday that sound was recorded by instruments in the lander’s feet.
Scientists are carefully analyzing data collected during Philae’s 60-hour operation on the comet, which already yielded evidence of plentiful frozen ice and organic molecules on 67P. Organic molecules are carbon-based chemical compounds that include many of the building blocks of life, such as proteins and DNA.
The Rosetta team hopes to reawaken the lander from its hibernation in the coming months, provided its solar panels generate enough energy as the comet nears the sun.
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Source:: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/philae-s-comet-landing-thud-recorded-1.2841835?cmp=rss
