How Rosetta deploys Philae

Rosetta’s deployment of Philae with Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in the background.

The animation begins with Philae still on Rosetta, which will come to within about 22.5 km of the centre of the nucleus to release the lander on 12 November 2014. The animation shows only the first moments after separation; it will take about seven hours for Philae to reach the surface.

Philae is provided by a consortium led by DLR, MPS, CNES and ASI.