Stephan Ulamec

Europe's comet-riding robot lab Philae has fallen "silent", said ground controllers today who feared it may have shifted on the rough, alien surface, out of radio range.

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.

Europe's robot lab Philae may not have enough power to send to Earth the results of Friday's drill into the surface of its host comet, mission scientists said.

After a 10-year journey, Europe's Rosetta spacecraft is due to end its hibernation on Monday and prepare for an unprecedented mission to orbit a comet and dispatch a lander to the surface.

Europe's comet-riding robot lab Philae has fallen "silent", said ground controllers today who feared it may have shifted on the rough, alien surface, out of radio range.

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.

Europe's robot lab Philae may not have enough power to send to Earth the results of Friday's drill into the surface of its host comet, mission scientists said.

After a 10-year journey, Europe's Rosetta spacecraft is due to end its hibernation on Monday and prepare for an unprecedented mission to orbit a comet and dispatch a lander to the surface.