Goodnight, Sweet Philae: ESA’s Comet Lander Likely in Permanent Hibernation

On the surface of comet 67P/C-G, Philae lies in sleep mode. (ESA) — *Somewhere on the surface of comet 67P/C-G Philae continues to lie in sleep mode. (ESA)*

ESA’s Philae lander, the first spacecraft to successfully soft-land on the surface of a comet and former piggyback partner to Rosetta, has not been in communication since July of 2015. With 67P now six months past perihelion and heading deeper out into the Solar System and Rosetta’s mission coming to a close this year, it’s not likely that Philae will ever be heard from again.

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