Probe makes historic comet landing

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Philae landerImage source, ESA
Image caption,

The Philae robot was dropped on to the comet from its mother-ship Rosetta

After a ten-year journey across the Solar System, a European robot probe, Philae, has made history by landing on a comet, the first spacecraft to ever achieve this the feat.

Very happy scientists received a signal from the Philae probe a few minutes ago confirming it had touched down safely on the icy surface of the two-kilometre-wide comet.

Media caption,

How the Philae probe will try to land on the comet

The tricky and complicated landing took place as the probe and comet sped through space at more than 40,000 miles per hour.

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