Comet scientists finally take a break

This is a combination photo of two images released by the European Space Agency, ESA. ESA says it provides strong indication that Philae touched down for the first time almost precisely where intended.

This is a combination photo of two images released by the European Space Agency, ESA. ESA says it provides strong indication that Philae touched down for the first time almost precisely where intended.

Published Nov 17, 2014

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Berlin - The European Space Agency says that its scientists are taking a bit of a break after working for four days around the clock since the pioneering lander Philae touched down on a comet.

ESA spokeswoman Jocelyn Landeau told The Associated Press that most of the agency's scientific teams were resting on Sunday “after several sleepless nights.”

Nonetheless, some scientists were still busy evaluating the data that Philae sent down to ESA on Saturday before its depleted batteries forced it to go silent.

Philae landed on Wednesday on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko about 311 million miles (500 million kilometres) from Earth, but then settled next to a cliff that largely blocked sunlight from reaching its solar panels.

Landeau says scientists are studying the data to see if their experiments on the comet were successful. - Sapa-AP

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