The Lander Hath Died

Philae died over the weekend, or last week late to be exact. As you may have heard the ESA sent the Rosetta spacecraft to a comet and landed a probe on it. Well it was small, with limited power.

His batteries died and he sent the last communications he could. Attempts to lift the probe up and maneuver him into some sunlight were inconclusive. Where he landed was in the shade and when he deployed his solar sails, he couldn't get enough juice. But with luck, they landed him correctly and he'll recharge. If not, we'll see him in a century or so when some collector takes is Class 4 Interplanetary Skid up there.

But Philae made a massive info dump from the comet so the missions was a resounding success.