Philae Lander

After dispatching the final data to Earth, Rosetta's signal will simply vanish from ground control screens .

US space agency NASA is poised on Thursday to launch its groundbreaking first mission to a near-Earth asteroid to collect samples that could shed light on the dawn of the solar system.

The agency released a photo of the washing machine-sized robot lab on the comet's rough surface.

Europe's Rosetta spacecraft has finally spotted its tiny lander Philae, thought to be lost forever, stuck in a ditch on the surface of a comet hurtling through space, ground controllers said Monday.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) said on Friday it suspects Philae is now covered in dust and too cold to operate.

A last-chance manoeuvre was attempted Sunday to shift the tiny lander into a sunnier angle for its battery-replenishing solar panels.

The Philae lander has identified 16 organic molecules on the surface of the comet that are potentially "prebiotic", or necessary for life.

Philae found several organic molecules - including four never detected before on a comet, which are important building blocks of life.

It really is the little lander that could.

Scientists said last week they fear the lander may have shifted position again, hampering communication efforts.

The organic-rich black crust of the comet named 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was likely caused by microorganisms living beneath an icy surface.

ESA said it had received signals from the lander late on Thursday.

The lack of a magnetic field on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko could sweep away a key theory on the formation of comets and other solar system bodies.

Europe's comet lander Philae has remained obstinately silent since a new bid was launched to communicate with it, mission chiefs said today, but chances for contact were improving daily.

"There is unlikely to be another opportunity for a dedicated lander search until later in the mission, possibly next year."

After dispatching the final data to Earth, Rosetta's signal will simply vanish from ground control screens .

US space agency NASA is poised on Thursday to launch its groundbreaking first mission to a near-Earth asteroid to collect samples that could shed light on the dawn of the solar system.

The agency released a photo of the washing machine-sized robot lab on the comet's rough surface.

Europe's Rosetta spacecraft has finally spotted its tiny lander Philae, thought to be lost forever, stuck in a ditch on the surface of a comet hurtling through space, ground controllers said Monday.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) said on Friday it suspects Philae is now covered in dust and too cold to operate.

A last-chance manoeuvre was attempted Sunday to shift the tiny lander into a sunnier angle for its battery-replenishing solar panels.

The Philae lander has identified 16 organic molecules on the surface of the comet that are potentially "prebiotic", or necessary for life.

Philae found several organic molecules - including four never detected before on a comet, which are important building blocks of life.

It really is the little lander that could.

Scientists said last week they fear the lander may have shifted position again, hampering communication efforts.

The organic-rich black crust of the comet named 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was likely caused by microorganisms living beneath an icy surface.

ESA said it had received signals from the lander late on Thursday.

The lack of a magnetic field on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko could sweep away a key theory on the formation of comets and other solar system bodies.

Europe's comet lander Philae has remained obstinately silent since a new bid was launched to communicate with it, mission chiefs said today, but chances for contact were improving daily.

"There is unlikely to be another opportunity for a dedicated lander search until later in the mission, possibly next year."