by Catalina » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:19 pm
Must the mission end with a crash landing? With a low gravitational influence, wouldn't it be possible make calculations in order to land more softly and give the Rosetta a chance to perhaps gather some of the data that the Philae Lander was unable to obtain? After watching lander after lander far exceed expectations of lifespan and missions being extended, I would hope that schedules could be bent a little, envelopes pushed, nominal risks be taken for an already partially failed mission in order to optimize the fact that eyes are already there, right there on the comet!
Must the mission end with a crash landing? With a low gravitational influence, wouldn't it be possible make calculations in order to land more softly and give the Rosetta a chance to perhaps gather some of the data that the Philae Lander was unable to obtain? After watching lander after lander far exceed expectations of lifespan and missions being extended, I would hope that schedules could be bent a little, envelopes pushed, nominal risks be taken for an already partially failed mission in order to optimize the fact that eyes are already there, right there on the comet!