Philae organic compounds found in comet – ElTiempo.com

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) reported that the Philae module which made history last November to successfully land on the comet 67P, found organic compounds considered precursors of life.

Aaas published a series of articles in the scientific discoveries made with the data that the Philae robot sent the Rosetta probe of the European Space Agency (ESA), which came off for landing on 12 November at Comet 67P.

In a study published in the scientific journal Science, the researchers explained that the Cometary Sampling and Composition (COSAC), one of the main instruments of Philae module, determined the existence of organic material in the comet.

Just 25 minutes after landing, the mass spectrometer of the COSAC took a measurement mode “sniffing”, similar to chemical detectors at airports, which the study showed the presence of 16 organic compounds, some with none nitrogen and sulfur.

Many of these components were detected in the tail of most comets, but methyl isocyanate, acetone, propanal and acetamide compounds that were not previously discovered in other comets also found.

The most important thing for astrobiology is that some of the materials found in comet dust are considered precursors to life, as involved in the formation of essential amino acids or nucleic bases.

The researchers stressed that comets preserve the most pristine of our solar system as ice material powder, solid silicates and organic matter. Is believed to have formed in interstellar space even before the solar nebula which then became the solar system appear.

The investigation of the chemical composition of comets provides crucial information on this matter at the dawn of the solar system, whose study is of great importance from the geological point of view as it provides some of the keys to understanding how his training.

In addition, from the point of view of the habitability, they can help us understand the origin of water on Earth and other planets like Mars and, from the point of astrobiology view, are fundamental to understanding the origin of life on this planet.

Another study reported describes the time when the robot Philae held its rugged arrival at the surface of the comet 67P, three rebounds and two landings.

After rebounding in the designated landing area, which turned out to have a layer of about 25 centimeters soft and grainy, the module finally stopped in a remote area of ​​rocky consistency, the edge of a crater and on land uneven.

The analysis of the two surfaces and different consistencies provided data on the evolution of comets and could serve to improve the design of new missions to others.

With the information gathered suggests that the landscape of Comet 67P has formed through erosion. To get a clearer picture of the interior of the comet, analysts told with measurements obtained from Philae directing electromagnetic signals through the comet’s nucleus to be received by Rosetta on the opposite side.

These measurements suggest that the comet’s head has a fairly homogeneous composition and its interior is even. For information Philae, the Rosetta probe has flown so far in optimal orbit to establish that communication, but on July 24 passed over the southern hemisphere move to alternate communication.

ejections of gas and dust in the comet’s surface prevent Rosetta fly very close to the surface and force the probe is kept at a safe distance of between 170 and 190 km.

EFE