Rosetta probe in place for first ever comet landing

A lander from the European Space Agency's Rosetta space mission is on course to approach and land on the icy surface of the 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet.

The probe had been traveling through space for the past ten years before coming close to the comet. Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is travelling through space at speeds of around 135,000 kilometers per hour, and it orbits the Sun every 6.45 years.

The agency is set to attempt the risky landing today, with the separation of the Philae lander planned for about 09:03 GMT and touch down occurring about seven hours later, at 16:02 GMT.

The final check confirmed that all systems of the Rosetta probe are functioning properly and its Philae lander is ready for comet landing, reported the ESA.

If successful, it will be the first time in the history of space exploration that a man-made object has made it to the surface of a comet.

The Rosetta robotic probe will release the washing-machine-sized 100kg Philae probe from a distance of approximately 22.5 kilometers from the comet’s center. Its descent to the comet's surface will take about seven hours, during which time the lander will take readings of the comet's magnetic field, dust and gases emitted by the comet.