First photos of historic Rosetta comet landing released

Published: 6:45AM Friday November 14, 2014 Source: ONE News/AP

After an historic but rocky landing, robot probe Philae has sent back its first images from a comet millions of miles away from earth.

The black-and-white pictures of a rocky surface sent back from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are the product of an astonishing feat of science and some sophisticated imaging technology.

These crisp images, released by the European Space Agency, have come from 500 million kilometres away.

The washing machine-sized lander has a close-up camera on its underside and is also mounted with seven high-definition micro-cameras, each weighing just 100 grams.

The cameras are designed to endure temperatures as low as minus 150 Celsius and arranged to capture 360-degree panoramas of the comet's surface.

But the flow of images may not last. After bouncing twice, scientists say that Philae appears to have landed in the shadow of a cliff and may not be getting enough sunlight to recharge its solar panels.

Despite the hitch, Philae's team say they are continuing to receive 'great data' from several different instruments on board the lander.

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