Summary

  • Confirmation received of the first ever comet landing

  • Successful touchdown of the landing robot Philae marks climax of 10 year, 6.4 billion km journey

  • Esa confirms the harpoons designed to attach Philae to the comet did not fire, but its smaller screws appear to have dug into the surface

  • Philae was released at 08:35 GMT and took seven hours to reach comet 67P

  • Pictures have been received of the descent in progress - more are now eagerly awaited from the comet surface

  • Live video from the European Space Agency's operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany

Live Reporting

Jonathan Webb, Melissa Hogenboom and Victoria Park

  1. Get involved

    John Lucas: Maybe if we did more things like this we would forget what divides us in terms of religion, nationality, language etc. and realise what we can achieve as a species.

  2. Get involved

    @flight_14 tweets: @ESA_Rosetta is landing @Philae2014 on the comet over next few hours. Good luck to them, but reminds me of the alltime worst "space" movie

  3. Separated at last

    tweets:

    Finally! I'm stretching my legs after more than 10 years. Landing gear deployed! #CometLanding"

    To which @Esa_Rosetta replies:

    @Philae2014 :) My back is chilly now you've left, but I'm in a better position to watch you now. Send me a postcard! #CometLanding

  4. David Shukman
    Science editor, BBC News

    tweets a picture of "handshakes and relief - again" from the moment that @ESA_Rosetta mission control re-established its radio link with @Philae2014:

    screen grab of handshake

  6. Get involved

    @Trillionblue tweets: @daraobriain @ESA_Rosetta really exciting! It's crazy! Thousands of miles into space, a robot is landing on a comet controlled from Germany!

  7. Get involved

    Stuart Booth: This is a really exciting mission. The stuff of science fiction comes to life. If they can successfully land a robot on an asteroid, then there are several possibilities opening up.

  8. Luck, be a lander

    More anxious words from the landing team:

    "It's on its own now," said Stephan Ulamec, Philae Lander Manager at the DLR German Aerospace Center.

    "We'll need some luck not to land on a boulder or a steep slope."

    Rosetta, Philae and comet 67PESA

  9. Get involved

    Helena: Words can't describe the excitement! Hoping for the best. Good luck all!

  10. Ivan Semeniuk, Journalist

    tweets: Phew! Connection with both Rosetta and lander re-established after post delivery manoeuvres. Touch down in just under 5 hours.

  11. This is what MUPUS should look like in two days' time, when it is ready to do some measurements.

    MUPUS probeMUPUS

  12. Feet down

    The team behind the MUPUS probe, which will take the comet's temperature, tweets that Philae's landing gear has been deployed.

  13. Risky business

    Prof Monica Grady from the Open University says that space is a risky business.

    "We don't do it because it's easy.

    "The landing is going to be a real nightmare, we've had beautiful images of the surface of the comet - which is a real problem. It's shown the landscape is strewn with rocks and boulders."

    It will be a nerve racking wait for her team, who have built one of the lander's instruments.

  14. Esa Rosetta mission

    tweets:

    "Phew! Back in contact with Earth after separation. #CometLanding"

    "Also now back in contact with @philae2014! Good to hear you again buddy :) #CometLanding"

    Meanwhile, the @esaoperations account tweets that "science data download" from the Philae lander is expected to start at 12:05 GMT.

  15. Signal acquired

    Esa's Dr Paolo Ferri, Head of Mission Operations Department says: "It's established, the link is there, now we can follow it on its descent. We are happy with the signal we have."

    Philae should hopefully land in about five hours' time.

  16. "It's still alive," said one of the scientists with relief...

  17. Cheers in the control room!

  18. Philae signal delay

    We're still waiting for a signal from Philae, via Rosetta... Anxious waiting for the scientists in Darmstadt. Watch using the "live coverage" tab above.

  19. Prof Chris Lintott, in Darmstadt

    tweets: We're now anxiously awaiting both @mggtTaylor for an interview and the first signals from @Philae2014, both expected shortly...

  20. Get involved

    Pete: Jonathan, nobody said it was going to be easy. But I for one hope that taking these risks will inspire many other future missions to other comets and asteroids and maybe other worlds. I think we ALL (the human race) need this kind of boost to our confidence.