Rosetta-Philae RF link, challenging communications from a comet

Abstract

The Rosetta spacecraft reached the vicinity of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014 and released the lander Philae for an in-situ analysis through 10 scientific instruments. The analysis of the lander RF link telemetry reveals major information on the lander orientation and its near environment during the 50-h mission on the comet. The Philae waking-up in April 2015 led to new RF contacts whose analysis gives among others assumptions on the RF equipment status, even if further and deeper investigation will be necessary.