The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Philae’s flight across the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014 saw the lander strike the surface in multiple locations. This graphic summarises the main touchdown sites. At 15:35 GMT Philae made first contact with the surface at Agilkia – the image shown here was taken by Philae’s own camera, ROLIS, before touchdown, approximately 40 metres from the surface. Philae then took flight across the Hatmehit depression on the ‘top’ of the small comet lobe, colliding with a cliff edge at 16:20 GMT. This set it on course with the second touchdown site, where it interacted with the surface multiple times over a period of two minutes starting at around 17:24 GMT. Philae arrived at its final resting place at Abydos, about 30 m away, at 17:31 GMT. The image has been enhanced to allow Philae, hiding in the shadows just 30 metres away from the second touchdown location, to be seen.