ESA releases recording of the noise its Philae spacecraft made when its feet touched the surface of its target comet

Nov 21, 2014 13:28 GMT  ·  By

This past November 12, the European Space Agency's Philae probe made history when it landed on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Over the following few days, photos documenting this mission took the online world by storm.

Just yesterday, the European Space Agency decided to once again sweep us off our feet and released a recording of the noise its Philae spacecraft made when its feet touched the surface of its target comet.

The recording, available below, lasts just 2 seconds. Still, seeing how this one noise is one of the most important in the history of mankind, I guarantee you will want to replay it several times. I know I did.

In a statement, the Agency explains that the thud made by Philae when it hit the comet's surface was recorded by sensors in its feet. The noise documents the first time the probe landed on the comet.

As previously reported, Philae bounced off 67P/C-G twice and finally settled down about three hours after reaching its target. Data at hand indicates that the spacecraft is now resting at the bottom of a cliff.

It's important to note that this recording is not an actual sound file. Thus, as explained by the European Space Agency, it is actually a recording of mechanical vibrations translated into acoustic frequencies.

Philae is now in hibernation mode (5 Images)

Artist's impression of Philae
Photo of the comet taken by the Philae landerThis photo of the comet was taken by the Rosetta spacecraft
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