Goodbye Philae: Comet Lander Comm Link Switched Off

The European Space Agency (ESA) on Wednesday (July 27) shut off the Electrical Support System (ESS) processor unit on its Rosetta probe, switching off the interface used to relay communications from the Philae lander on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The Philae probe bounced to a history-making touchdown on Comet 67P on Nov. 12, 2014. Seven months later, as the comet moved closer to the sun, Philae was able to power up and be heard from again.