Watch live as a spaceship tries to land on a friggin' comet [updated]

The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission landed on Comet 67P!

Published November 12, 2014 3:40PM (EST)

How Philae lands on the comet       (ESA/ATG Medialab)
How Philae lands on the comet (ESA/ATG Medialab)

Update: Philae landed making it the first soft landing of a spacecraft on a comet in history!

The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission is in its final countdown to land the Philae lander on Comet 67P. If it is successful, this will be the first time that humanity has landed a probe on a comet. NASA, who played a role in the mission, explains:

"Rosetta is a spacecraft on a ten-year mission to catch the comet "67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko" (C-G) and answer some of our questions about comets. Rosetta will be the first spacecraft to soft-land a robot on a comet! Rosetta will also be the first spacecraft to accompany a comet as it enters our inner solar system, observing at close range how the comet changes as the Sun’s heat transforms it into the luminous apparition that has frightened and inspired people for centuries."

Or as Neil deGrasse Tyson put it:

[embedtweet id="532539486450638848"]

Follow Philae lander on Twitter, and watch below:

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream


By Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on innovation. Follow @sarahhhgray or email sgray@salon.com.

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Comet European Space Agency History Landing Rosetta Space Video