Author notes

214 - Interruptus

El Cid

on May 7, 2018

If you've been following my blurbage for a while, you know that I've been checking in from time to time for the latest developments with our exploration of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The photos and video clips we've received from the Rosetta orbiter have been pretty amazing, but recently the ESA released this surface video from the Philae lander robot. It's mankind's first view from the surface of a comet! How cool is that!

As it turns out, landing on a comet is extremely difficult. There's next to no surface gravity, so the slightest impact will bounce your spacecraft back into space. So the Philae lander needed a harpoon and some purpose built comet screws to touch down on 67P. It didn't work so well. The harpoon failed to fire and the solar-powered lander bounced around and landed in a shaded area where it couldn't get enough sunlight to function. Fortunately, after more than half a year in sleep mode, the lander was finally charged enough to get some work done, and the mission was a nail-biting success.



Also, not to ruin the moment or anything, but the video is a bit misleading. It's not in real time; it's a time lapse over the course of 27 minutes. Also, a lot of the “snow” is actually stars in the background and some of it is also probably high energy particles not visible to the human eye as they impact the camera. But there is some snow and dust in there as well. So it is snowing on Comet 67P. Sort of.







Just so you know: I'm on Twitter now! I have no idea whatsoever what I'm supposed to do with a Twitter account, but the forums and newsletter have been pushing the idea that more of us should be using Twitter to promote our comics, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. If nothing else, it might be a good place to post WIP images… but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I turn out to be one of those 75 percent who end up bailing on The Bird. I'm at least giving it the good college try!

Well, if there are any Twitter gurus reading this and you have some pointers to give me, let me know! My Twitter handle is @TransneptunianX.