Comet probe finds key ingredients for life

The comet probe Philae detected several elements essential to life during its historic, bouncing landing in November, scientists announced Thursday.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko contains at least 16 organic compounds, four of which had never before been detected on a comet, the first analysis of the data found. Whether the complex, carbon- and nitrogen-rich molecules were formed in the early days of the solar system or later on the comet remains a mystery.

But their existence "could have played a key role in fostering the formation" of amino acids, sugars and nucleobases — the ingredients for life, said the European Space Agency, which launched the Rosetta orbiter and its probe.

When it finally came to rest after a seven-hour descent and an unexpected, bouncing landing, Philae also encountered rock harder than its scientific hammer was designed for.

"Taken together, these first measurements performed at the surface of 67P profoundly modify our view of comets," scientists write in a special issue of the journal Science.

Philae's landing, which left it sitting at an angle in the shadow of a cliff, delivered an "unexpected bonus," the space agency said. The lander's instruments collected additional data at its two touchdown sites and during the two hours it was aloft after rebounding when the lander's anchors failed.

"Although it remains to be seen whether these observations hold true for all comets, the discoveries made by Philae — including these initial results — will continue to shape our view of the history of the solar system," said the authors behind the seven research papers featured in the July 31 Science.

The data were gathered over 64 hours, from the time Philae dropped from Rosetta until it went into hibernation after running out of power because its solar panels were in shadows.

With the comet speeding toward the sun, the probe woke up last month and established its first contact with controllers in seven months. But communications have been spotty and the German space agency that operates Philae has been unable to secure a strong connection to restart the experiments.

Scientists could get a big break in two weeks. On Aug. 13, the comet will be at perihelion, when it's nearest to the sun.