The Philae lander

ilae will take close up and panoramic images of the comet’s surface and will probe and analyse the surface and subsurface to study its structure and composition.  A drilling system will take samples from a depth of around 30 cm for detailed analysis.  All data will be subsequently relayed to the orbiter, ready for transmission back to Earth. 

The lander was provided by a European consortium led by the German Aerospace Centre DLR, the French space agency CNES, and the Italian space agency ASI, together with ESA and institutes from Austria, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and the UK.

APXS, Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer

CIVA, Panoramic and Microscopic Imaging System

CONSERT,  Radio sounding nucleus tomography

COSAC, Evolved gas analyser – elemental and molecular composition

MODULUS Ptolemy, Evolved gas analyser – isotopic composition

MUPUS, Measurements of surface and subsurface properties

ROLIS, Imaging

ROMAP, Magnetometer and plasma monitor

SD2, Sample Drilling and Distribution

SESAME, Surface electrical, acoustic and dust impact monitoring