The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft is about to wake up soon in January from a three year long hibernation period. It will start its preparations to land on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

If all goes well, Rosetta will reach its destination in August. It will then start mapping the orbit, and it will deploy a spider-like lander called Philae on the surface in November. This will be the first time ever anything has ever soft landed on a comet. This is history.

The scientific instruments on board include a drill that can penetrate as far as 20 centimeters into whatever lies below it. It will then pick up samples and analyze them right on sight and allow the lander to learn more about the comet's surface and subsurface. (You can read more technical details here.)


Artist's impression of Philae, the lander from the Rosetta spacecraft, descending to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in November 2014. Credit: ESA–J. Huart, 2013

"As Philae touches down on the comet, two harpoons will anchor it to the surface; the self-adjusting landing gear will ensure that it stays upright, even on a slope, and then the lander's feet will drill into the ground to secure it to the comet's surface in the low gravity environment," ESA wrote.

More to come in January.