1 00:00:01,134 --> 00:00:03,981 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 2 00:00:04,005 --> 00:00:06,717 ♪♪ 3 00:00:06,741 --> 00:00:09,386 What asteroids are are, really, remnants 4 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:12,089 from when the solar system was forming. 5 00:00:12,113 --> 00:00:16,382 ♪♪ 6 00:00:26,626 --> 00:00:28,705 [ Growl ] 7 00:00:28,729 --> 00:00:32,542 We also have to respect them [ Laughs ] as something that 8 00:00:32,566 --> 00:00:35,045 could actually change our way of life, even today. 9 00:00:35,069 --> 00:00:37,881 ♪♪ 10 00:00:37,905 --> 00:00:41,885 We have high confidence that the dinosaurs were ended 11 00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:45,889 by a very large impact of a asteroid on the earth. 12 00:00:45,913 --> 00:00:47,391 ♪♪ 13 00:00:47,415 --> 00:00:49,793 If a large enough asteroid were to hit the earth, 14 00:00:49,817 --> 00:00:51,461 it would be quite cataclysmic. 15 00:00:51,485 --> 00:00:54,297 ♪♪ 16 00:00:54,321 --> 00:00:55,866 [ Explosion ] 17 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:59,102 Genge: Impacts are not necessarily just bad things. 18 00:00:59,126 --> 00:01:01,671 The earth was very dry when it formed. 19 00:01:01,695 --> 00:01:02,672 There was hardly any water. 20 00:01:02,696 --> 00:01:04,808 There were hardly any carbon 21 00:01:04,832 --> 00:01:07,677 and we think most of the ingredients for life 22 00:01:07,701 --> 00:01:10,547 were delivered by asteroids and comets. 23 00:01:10,571 --> 00:01:12,015 ♪♪ 24 00:01:12,039 --> 00:01:14,317 You could spend the rest of your life 25 00:01:14,341 --> 00:01:16,520 exploring every little part of the comet 26 00:01:16,544 --> 00:01:18,989 and not see the same type of thing twice. 27 00:01:19,013 --> 00:01:22,714 ♪♪ 28 00:01:28,823 --> 00:01:32,169 Man: 10, 9, 8, 7, 29 00:01:32,193 --> 00:01:33,637 6, 5. 30 00:01:33,661 --> 00:01:36,173 So the near mission was designed and conceived 31 00:01:36,197 --> 00:01:39,342 so that it would actually show up at an asteroid stop, 32 00:01:39,366 --> 00:01:43,513 be in close proximity to it for an extended period of time. 33 00:01:43,537 --> 00:01:46,049 - 1... - Just to see what an asteroid was like. 34 00:01:46,073 --> 00:01:48,318 -...zero. And liftoff. 35 00:01:48,342 --> 00:01:52,022 ♪♪ 36 00:01:52,046 --> 00:01:54,458 Genge: Near launched in 1996. 37 00:01:54,482 --> 00:01:57,127 Keep the pressure rising in all six -- motors. 38 00:01:57,151 --> 00:01:58,462 And, like all planetary missions, 39 00:01:58,486 --> 00:02:00,931 it takes a long time to reach the target. 40 00:02:00,955 --> 00:02:03,200 Good chamber pressure on the main engine. 41 00:02:03,224 --> 00:02:05,001 So it didn't arrive at Eros 42 00:02:05,025 --> 00:02:07,671 until the 20th of December in 1998. 43 00:02:07,695 --> 00:02:10,140 We have good engine control in the main engine. 44 00:02:10,164 --> 00:02:11,975 Good engine control in the [ Indistinct ] 45 00:02:11,999 --> 00:02:18,181 ♪♪ 46 00:02:18,205 --> 00:02:21,952 As you fly into the body, you've never seen it before 47 00:02:21,976 --> 00:02:24,788 and you start to see the images. 48 00:02:24,812 --> 00:02:30,627 ♪♪ 49 00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:32,796 At first, they're very fuzzy, 50 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:35,465 but then, they come more and more into focus. 51 00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:37,501 ♪♪ 52 00:02:37,525 --> 00:02:41,071 And, at every stage, you're seeing new things. 53 00:02:41,095 --> 00:02:44,107 ♪♪ 54 00:02:44,131 --> 00:02:47,144 It looks like it's two asteroids 55 00:02:47,168 --> 00:02:49,446 that are just sort of resting on each other 56 00:02:49,470 --> 00:02:52,549 and it's got those beautiful saddle regions 57 00:02:52,573 --> 00:02:54,284 where they sort of touch each other. 58 00:02:54,308 --> 00:02:57,554 ♪♪ 59 00:02:57,578 --> 00:03:01,825 Genge: That phase of the mission lasted from December 1998 60 00:03:01,849 --> 00:03:04,494 all the way to February 2001. 61 00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:06,997 ♪♪ 62 00:03:07,021 --> 00:03:10,000 The spacecraft was nearing the end of its life. 63 00:03:10,024 --> 00:03:11,468 It couldn't fly back to earth. 64 00:03:11,492 --> 00:03:13,570 ♪♪ 65 00:03:13,594 --> 00:03:16,206 The mission manager had people start studying, 66 00:03:16,230 --> 00:03:19,309 well, what would it take to actually bring the spacecraft 67 00:03:19,333 --> 00:03:22,112 down to the surface, to have a soft landing, 68 00:03:22,136 --> 00:03:24,281 so that maybe the spacecraft could even survive? 69 00:03:24,305 --> 00:03:26,049 ♪♪ 70 00:03:26,073 --> 00:03:28,285 When it was launched, it was never designed 71 00:03:28,309 --> 00:03:31,121 to actually land on the surface. 72 00:03:31,145 --> 00:03:32,255 I remember thinking that, 73 00:03:32,279 --> 00:03:34,491 "there's no way this is going to work." 74 00:03:34,515 --> 00:03:37,794 We have successfully deorbited around Eros 75 00:03:37,818 --> 00:03:39,529 and we're on our way down. 76 00:03:39,553 --> 00:03:41,264 There's no turning back now. 77 00:03:41,288 --> 00:03:44,734 ♪♪ 78 00:03:44,758 --> 00:03:46,269 Scheeres: It was a complete success. 79 00:03:46,293 --> 00:03:48,705 ♪♪ 80 00:03:48,729 --> 00:03:52,242 It landed, perched itself on the surface. 81 00:03:52,266 --> 00:03:53,476 It was quite exciting. 82 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:54,811 [ Cheering and applause ] This is the first time 83 00:03:54,835 --> 00:03:58,281 that any spacecraft has landed on a small body. 84 00:03:58,305 --> 00:04:00,517 [ Laughs ] 85 00:04:00,541 --> 00:04:02,819 Congratulations. 86 00:04:02,843 --> 00:04:05,722 Near-shoemaker showed that it's possible 87 00:04:05,746 --> 00:04:07,757 to touch down on an asteroid. 88 00:04:07,781 --> 00:04:09,526 ♪♪ 89 00:04:09,550 --> 00:04:13,830 The next big target is to bring a piece back to earth. 90 00:04:13,854 --> 00:04:15,498 ♪♪ 91 00:04:15,522 --> 00:04:17,834 Got it. Oop, nope. It dropped. 92 00:04:17,858 --> 00:04:19,402 See if I can pick it up again. 93 00:04:19,426 --> 00:04:21,137 I think it'll fit in the bag, Joe. 94 00:04:21,161 --> 00:04:22,706 ♪♪ 95 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:25,375 Scheeres: When we went to the moon, we got lunar rocks, 96 00:04:25,399 --> 00:04:27,177 then brought them back to the earth 97 00:04:27,201 --> 00:04:29,212 and have been analyzing them ever since. 98 00:04:29,236 --> 00:04:31,047 ♪♪ 99 00:04:31,071 --> 00:04:34,384 It allows us to understand our own earth so much better. 100 00:04:34,408 --> 00:04:37,721 It's sort of like archeology of the solar system. 101 00:04:37,745 --> 00:04:39,956 Woman: Look, go. 102 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:44,794 So, hayabusa set the stage to answer that next question. 103 00:04:44,818 --> 00:04:47,397 Ignition. [ Man speaking Japanese ] 104 00:04:47,421 --> 00:04:49,733 Ignition and liftoff! 105 00:04:49,757 --> 00:04:50,900 [ Speaking Japanese ] 106 00:04:50,924 --> 00:04:52,902 Jaxa, the Japanese space agency, 107 00:04:52,926 --> 00:04:56,473 wanted to send a spacecraft to an asteroid, 108 00:04:56,497 --> 00:04:58,875 grab a piece, and bring it back to earth. 109 00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:01,278 The very first sample-return mission. 110 00:05:01,302 --> 00:05:03,380 ♪♪ 111 00:05:03,404 --> 00:05:05,270 [ Cheering and applause ] 112 00:05:11,711 --> 00:05:14,780 ♪♪ 113 00:05:18,318 --> 00:05:19,729 Scheeres: It was a very ambitious mission. 114 00:05:19,753 --> 00:05:21,898 ♪♪ 115 00:05:21,922 --> 00:05:25,435 From the start, it was also sort of a cursed mission. 116 00:05:25,459 --> 00:05:27,426 ♪♪ 117 00:05:35,234 --> 00:05:36,713 ♪♪ 118 00:05:36,737 --> 00:05:40,383 Scheeres: The solar flare compromised their solar arrays, 119 00:05:40,407 --> 00:05:43,219 so they had less power to push themselves on 120 00:05:43,243 --> 00:05:45,655 towards the asteroid. 121 00:05:45,679 --> 00:05:49,381 Furthermore, they were carrying some reaction wheels. 122 00:05:56,723 --> 00:05:58,935 That was also a very large complication 123 00:05:58,959 --> 00:06:01,104 because it changed the whole way 124 00:06:01,128 --> 00:06:03,206 that they controlled the spacecraft. 125 00:06:03,230 --> 00:06:04,696 ♪♪ 126 00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:37,941 ♪♪ 127 00:06:37,965 --> 00:06:40,810 ♪♪ 128 00:06:40,834 --> 00:06:45,448 Hayabusa(1) is there to collect pieces of the asteroid 129 00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:49,786 and that all begins on November 5, 2005. 130 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:52,944 ♪♪ 131 00:06:56,783 --> 00:07:01,765 ♪♪ 132 00:07:01,789 --> 00:07:04,300 The spacecraft's going to slowly come down towards the surface 133 00:07:04,324 --> 00:07:05,869 and then, they have a funnel 134 00:07:05,893 --> 00:07:08,505 and that funnel touches down on the surface. 135 00:07:08,529 --> 00:07:11,274 ♪♪ 136 00:07:11,298 --> 00:07:15,278 It would fire a projectile into the surface. 137 00:07:15,302 --> 00:07:17,414 The debris comes up the funnel 138 00:07:17,438 --> 00:07:20,417 and it's then collected into the container 139 00:07:20,441 --> 00:07:22,952 and then away it would go, so it was a touch-and-go. 140 00:07:22,976 --> 00:07:29,281 ♪♪ 141 00:07:39,892 --> 00:07:43,206 So there was nothing to make that plume of dust 142 00:07:43,230 --> 00:07:44,974 go up into the sample container. 143 00:07:44,998 --> 00:07:47,811 ♪♪ 144 00:07:47,835 --> 00:07:48,912 Eventually, the spacecraft 145 00:07:48,936 --> 00:07:50,780 leaves the surface and, unfortunately, 146 00:07:50,804 --> 00:07:53,316 there is now a leak in one of the fuel lines. 147 00:07:53,340 --> 00:07:55,974 ♪♪ 148 00:08:00,947 --> 00:08:05,528 ♪♪ 149 00:08:05,552 --> 00:08:07,664 When you're leaking material into space, 150 00:08:07,688 --> 00:08:09,232 it's like having another engine. 151 00:08:09,256 --> 00:08:10,388 It's like a jet. 152 00:08:33,179 --> 00:08:35,258 ♪♪ 153 00:08:35,282 --> 00:08:38,394 They were able to tell that, in a few months, 154 00:08:38,418 --> 00:08:39,662 they would actually be able 155 00:08:39,686 --> 00:08:43,366 to get small commands into one of the antennas. 156 00:08:43,390 --> 00:08:45,423 ♪♪ 157 00:08:53,165 --> 00:09:00,116 ♪♪ 158 00:09:00,140 --> 00:09:02,752 For hayabusa, the struggles were not over. 159 00:09:02,776 --> 00:09:04,187 So it had to get back to earth. 160 00:09:04,211 --> 00:09:09,092 ♪♪ 161 00:09:09,116 --> 00:09:11,594 Scheeres: Here is this crippled spacecraft, 162 00:09:11,618 --> 00:09:13,496 you know, literally limping home. 163 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,734 ♪♪ 164 00:09:17,758 --> 00:09:19,702 People are worried that the mission 165 00:09:19,726 --> 00:09:21,137 is going to fail at this stage, 166 00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:24,874 that we potentially may or may not have collected samples 167 00:09:24,898 --> 00:09:28,611 and that it might not actually make it back to us. 168 00:09:28,635 --> 00:09:31,036 Scheeres: So they're hanging on by a thread. 169 00:09:33,072 --> 00:09:36,319 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 170 00:09:36,343 --> 00:09:38,955 For hayabusa, the struggles were not over. 171 00:09:38,979 --> 00:09:40,223 It had to get back to earth. 172 00:09:40,247 --> 00:09:42,959 ♪♪ 173 00:09:42,983 --> 00:09:45,261 Scheeres: So they're hanging on by a thread. 174 00:09:45,285 --> 00:09:47,864 ♪♪ 175 00:09:47,888 --> 00:09:49,432 But, they were able to hang on. 176 00:09:49,456 --> 00:09:52,702 ♪♪ 177 00:09:52,726 --> 00:09:54,671 [ Man speaks indistinctly ] 178 00:09:54,695 --> 00:09:57,307 They were able to successfully navigate 179 00:09:57,331 --> 00:09:58,741 all the way back to earth. 180 00:09:58,765 --> 00:10:01,177 ♪♪ 181 00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:02,912 Nice flashes. 182 00:10:02,936 --> 00:10:04,047 Oh, wow. 183 00:10:04,071 --> 00:10:08,651 ♪♪ 184 00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:09,808 40 kilometers. 185 00:10:23,289 --> 00:10:29,472 ♪♪ 186 00:10:29,496 --> 00:10:31,608 They have, indeed, collected 187 00:10:31,632 --> 00:10:35,066 maybe 1,500 dust particles. 188 00:10:41,607 --> 00:10:45,543 ♪♪ 189 00:10:51,751 --> 00:10:53,296 ♪♪ 190 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,332 One of the things we're interested with asteroids is 191 00:10:56,356 --> 00:10:59,824 whether they delivered the oceans to earth. 192 00:11:14,607 --> 00:11:17,387 ♪♪ 193 00:11:17,411 --> 00:11:18,788 They are a match. 194 00:11:18,812 --> 00:11:20,523 ♪♪ 195 00:11:20,547 --> 00:11:23,259 So it's the first clue that, maybe, 196 00:11:23,283 --> 00:11:26,896 all this wonderful water on the surface of the earth 197 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,565 actually comes from asteroids. 198 00:11:29,589 --> 00:11:37,589 ♪♪ 199 00:11:38,065 --> 00:11:39,876 Asteroids are fascinating, 200 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:43,146 but further out away from the young sun... 201 00:11:43,170 --> 00:11:44,480 ♪♪ 202 00:11:44,504 --> 00:11:47,750 ...is where very bizarre objects were created. 203 00:11:47,774 --> 00:11:49,252 The comets. 204 00:11:49,276 --> 00:11:52,544 ♪♪ 205 00:12:00,152 --> 00:12:03,833 ♪♪ 206 00:12:03,857 --> 00:12:05,168 People have always been intrigued 207 00:12:05,192 --> 00:12:08,237 by these messengers that come out of the night sky. 208 00:12:08,261 --> 00:12:10,807 ♪♪ 209 00:12:10,831 --> 00:12:13,076 What are these objects? Where do they come from? 210 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:14,444 What are they made of? 211 00:12:14,468 --> 00:12:17,847 ♪♪ 212 00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:21,784 What's locked up as treasure or secrets in comets? 213 00:12:21,808 --> 00:12:24,053 ♪♪ 214 00:12:24,077 --> 00:12:26,055 For a long time, they were mysterious. 215 00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:28,391 We didn't even know their orbits. 216 00:12:28,415 --> 00:12:31,794 ♪♪ 217 00:12:31,818 --> 00:12:35,131 And it really wasn't until the observations of halley's comet 218 00:12:35,155 --> 00:12:38,334 where it was realized that they actually orbit the solar system, 219 00:12:38,358 --> 00:12:41,871 that it comes back every 76 years. 220 00:12:41,895 --> 00:12:44,006 ♪♪ 221 00:12:44,030 --> 00:12:46,776 Halley's comet has a special place. 222 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,544 ♪♪ 223 00:12:48,568 --> 00:12:53,049 1986 was a really special year because we got our first look. 224 00:12:53,073 --> 00:12:54,417 ♪♪ 225 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:55,573 [ Camera shutter clicks ] 226 00:12:58,711 --> 00:13:00,523 Man: First-stage servomotor started. 227 00:13:00,547 --> 00:13:01,924 ♪♪ 228 00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:04,827 The objective of giotto was pretty simple, really -- 229 00:13:04,851 --> 00:13:06,395 To intercept halley. 230 00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:08,097 Final arming ready to go. 231 00:13:08,121 --> 00:13:09,888 Man: Six, cinq... 232 00:13:14,827 --> 00:13:17,006 Ignition. 233 00:13:17,030 --> 00:13:19,297 First-stage. Ignition and takeoff. 234 00:13:23,702 --> 00:13:24,747 First-stage flight. 235 00:13:24,771 --> 00:13:25,948 [ Speaking French ] [ Applause ] 236 00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:27,517 ♪♪ 237 00:13:27,541 --> 00:13:31,487 The comet has an atmosphere, that we call the coma, 238 00:13:31,511 --> 00:13:34,590 and then, the tail streams away from the comet. 239 00:13:34,614 --> 00:13:37,727 And the tail also contains dust. 240 00:13:37,751 --> 00:13:40,663 ♪♪ 241 00:13:40,687 --> 00:13:44,700 Dust particles, although they might not seem hazardous, 242 00:13:44,724 --> 00:13:50,273 if you fire them at a spacecraft at many kilometers per second, 243 00:13:50,297 --> 00:13:54,277 even a small dust particle can destroy the spacecraft. 244 00:13:54,301 --> 00:14:02,218 ♪♪ 245 00:14:02,242 --> 00:14:05,488 Giotto made its rush towards halley's comet 246 00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:08,624 and it's getting closer and closer to the nucleus. 247 00:14:08,648 --> 00:14:10,760 ♪♪ 248 00:14:10,784 --> 00:14:12,528 And it's being hit by particles. 249 00:14:12,552 --> 00:14:14,964 They're picking up impacts. 250 00:14:14,988 --> 00:14:17,655 ♪♪ 251 00:14:29,602 --> 00:14:32,915 [ Beep ] It gets hit by a big one. 252 00:14:32,939 --> 00:14:35,151 And it puts the spacecraft into a spin. 253 00:14:35,175 --> 00:14:37,687 ♪♪ 254 00:14:37,711 --> 00:14:40,857 And so, all of a sudden, its protection, its shield, 255 00:14:40,881 --> 00:14:43,326 is not facing the dust particles. 256 00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:45,950 [ Beeping ] 257 00:14:55,961 --> 00:15:00,098 ♪♪ 258 00:15:05,671 --> 00:15:07,783 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 259 00:15:07,807 --> 00:15:09,552 ♪♪ 260 00:15:09,576 --> 00:15:12,788 Genge: Giotto made its rush towards halley's comet 261 00:15:12,812 --> 00:15:16,359 and it's getting closer and closer to the nucleus. 262 00:15:16,383 --> 00:15:17,582 It gets hit by a big one. 263 00:15:20,352 --> 00:15:23,466 ♪♪ 264 00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:24,934 The camera goes dead. 265 00:15:24,958 --> 00:15:29,071 And the spacecraft is still flying through, 266 00:15:29,095 --> 00:15:31,207 through that debris. 267 00:15:31,231 --> 00:15:33,009 And I think there were a lot of people there 268 00:15:33,033 --> 00:15:35,177 who thought that they were going to lose the spacecraft 269 00:15:35,201 --> 00:15:37,280 and that was it, that was the end of the mission. 270 00:15:37,304 --> 00:15:45,304 ♪♪ 271 00:15:47,013 --> 00:15:48,491 But, thankfully, it survived. 272 00:15:48,515 --> 00:15:50,760 It went all the way through and lived on. 273 00:15:50,784 --> 00:15:53,651 ♪♪ 274 00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:13,471 ♪♪ 275 00:16:15,140 --> 00:16:16,519 ♪♪ 276 00:16:16,543 --> 00:16:18,020 They were just truly incredible. 277 00:16:18,044 --> 00:16:20,289 ♪♪ 278 00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:22,024 The comet, surprisingly, 279 00:16:22,048 --> 00:16:28,331 is not this bright, clean bowl of ice. 280 00:16:28,355 --> 00:16:30,166 It's dark. 281 00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:32,234 It's almost black. 282 00:16:32,258 --> 00:16:36,861 ♪♪ 283 00:16:43,569 --> 00:16:48,651 ♪♪ 284 00:16:48,675 --> 00:16:52,188 We've learned about processes that are going on 285 00:16:52,212 --> 00:16:54,223 inside a comet 286 00:16:54,247 --> 00:16:56,125 that we would never have guessed, 287 00:16:56,149 --> 00:16:57,426 unless we'd gone there. 288 00:16:57,450 --> 00:16:59,195 [ Applause ] 289 00:16:59,219 --> 00:17:01,764 Giotto was remarkable. 290 00:17:01,788 --> 00:17:02,865 [ Applause ] 291 00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:05,501 ♪♪ 292 00:17:05,525 --> 00:17:08,704 When giotto flew past comet halley in 1986, 293 00:17:08,728 --> 00:17:13,209 the flyby was around 68, 70 kilometers a second. 294 00:17:13,233 --> 00:17:15,578 ♪♪ 295 00:17:15,602 --> 00:17:17,446 You see it for a few minutes and then it's gone. 296 00:17:17,470 --> 00:17:18,581 It's all over. 297 00:17:18,605 --> 00:17:20,516 ♪♪ 298 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:23,419 To learn more, you want to go and rendezvous with a comet. 299 00:17:23,443 --> 00:17:25,154 You want to fly alongside it. 300 00:17:25,178 --> 00:17:26,455 ♪♪ 301 00:17:26,479 --> 00:17:28,691 Can we learn about the evolution of these objects 302 00:17:28,715 --> 00:17:32,228 by studying it over time? 303 00:17:32,252 --> 00:17:33,929 And, of course, then, the idea comes up, 304 00:17:33,953 --> 00:17:35,765 you would want to touch down on the surface. 305 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:38,034 You want to land there, sample material. 306 00:17:38,058 --> 00:17:40,636 ♪♪ 307 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:44,607 To do all of that in one mission 308 00:17:44,631 --> 00:17:47,309 is incredibly gutsy. 309 00:17:47,333 --> 00:17:48,978 Dix, neuf, 310 00:17:49,002 --> 00:17:50,312 huit, sept -- 311 00:17:50,336 --> 00:17:54,216 The first time I heard about the mission, I thought, 312 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:55,284 "they must be joking." 313 00:17:55,308 --> 00:17:57,620 Cinq, quatre, 314 00:17:57,644 --> 00:17:59,555 trois, deux, 315 00:17:59,579 --> 00:18:01,012 UN -- 316 00:18:02,347 --> 00:18:04,960 ♪♪ 317 00:18:04,984 --> 00:18:06,662 Décollage. 318 00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:08,864 We launch in march 2004. 319 00:18:08,888 --> 00:18:11,934 ♪♪ 320 00:18:11,958 --> 00:18:15,471 Accomazzo: The whole travel to the comet was an adventure for rosetta. 321 00:18:15,495 --> 00:18:17,373 ♪♪ 322 00:18:17,397 --> 00:18:19,909 The comet is on an orbit with a different energy level, 323 00:18:19,933 --> 00:18:21,377 compared to the one of the earth, 324 00:18:21,401 --> 00:18:25,047 so we had to actually impart this energy to our spacecraft 325 00:18:25,071 --> 00:18:26,515 to get to the same orbit. 326 00:18:26,539 --> 00:18:30,953 ♪♪ 327 00:18:30,977 --> 00:18:33,989 So we did this thing to use the planets 328 00:18:34,013 --> 00:18:35,458 and to use their gravity 329 00:18:35,482 --> 00:18:38,094 to slingshot us through space 330 00:18:38,118 --> 00:18:40,596 on a different trajectory, with more speed, 331 00:18:40,620 --> 00:18:42,098 in order to be able to get to the comet. 332 00:18:42,122 --> 00:18:45,267 ♪♪ 333 00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:48,003 We were really launched very fast, 334 00:18:48,027 --> 00:18:50,239 but getting very far from the sun. 335 00:18:50,263 --> 00:18:58,263 ♪♪ 336 00:18:58,671 --> 00:19:02,952 We could not keep all the systems on board active 337 00:19:02,976 --> 00:19:05,321 because the illumination of our solar panels 338 00:19:05,345 --> 00:19:06,722 was getting very weak. 339 00:19:06,746 --> 00:19:12,094 ♪♪ 340 00:19:12,118 --> 00:19:15,097 So the decision was made, in fact, to turn it off. 341 00:19:15,121 --> 00:19:20,169 ♪♪ 342 00:19:20,193 --> 00:19:22,671 I hated that concept from the very beginning. 343 00:19:22,695 --> 00:19:24,273 I'd been fighting it for years. 344 00:19:24,297 --> 00:19:25,908 I was convinced we would never do it. 345 00:19:25,932 --> 00:19:27,076 It was too crazy. 346 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:28,744 ♪♪ 347 00:19:28,768 --> 00:19:32,948 Switching off the radio signal is like cutting a vital link. 348 00:19:32,972 --> 00:19:34,783 ♪♪ 349 00:19:34,807 --> 00:19:37,253 Accomazzo: You've been flying a spacecraft for seven years. 350 00:19:37,277 --> 00:19:40,089 It's at hundreds of millions of kilometers away 351 00:19:40,113 --> 00:19:41,390 and what do you do? You send the command 352 00:19:41,414 --> 00:19:43,259 to switch it off and wake it up three years later. 353 00:19:43,283 --> 00:19:45,361 It just doesn't make sense 354 00:19:45,385 --> 00:19:46,595 and this is what we did. 355 00:19:46,619 --> 00:19:53,936 ♪♪ 356 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:58,607 We spent two and a half years without contact 357 00:19:58,631 --> 00:20:00,609 and we waited. 358 00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:04,947 ♪♪ 359 00:20:04,971 --> 00:20:08,150 Mccaughrean: We couldn't talk to it while it was in hibernation. 360 00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:09,618 We needed it to wake up... 361 00:20:09,642 --> 00:20:11,053 [ Ticking ] 362 00:20:11,077 --> 00:20:14,990 ...which it was due to do on the 20th of January 2014. 363 00:20:15,014 --> 00:20:16,358 [ Cacophony of ticking ] 364 00:20:16,382 --> 00:20:19,295 [ Ringing ] Man: 3, 2, 1. 365 00:20:19,319 --> 00:20:21,430 Wake up! [ Alarm blaring ] 366 00:20:21,454 --> 00:20:22,731 [ Echoing ] Wake up! Wake up! 367 00:20:22,755 --> 00:20:24,288 Wake up! Wake up! - Okay, good. 368 00:20:26,692 --> 00:20:30,072 We were sitting all in the control room, 369 00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:32,408 waiting for the signal to come. 370 00:20:32,432 --> 00:20:36,912 And this was probably the most tense moment of the mission. 371 00:20:36,936 --> 00:20:39,081 ♪♪ 372 00:20:39,105 --> 00:20:41,317 This was everything or nothing. 373 00:20:41,341 --> 00:20:42,785 It was life-or-death. 374 00:20:42,809 --> 00:20:47,623 [ Ticking ] 375 00:20:47,647 --> 00:20:51,894 Accomazzo: It was building up tension at that stage. 376 00:20:51,918 --> 00:20:53,229 "Why it's not coming?" 377 00:20:53,253 --> 00:20:59,368 ♪♪ 378 00:20:59,392 --> 00:21:02,004 Ferri: It was very difficult to bear. 379 00:21:02,028 --> 00:21:04,707 ♪♪ 380 00:21:04,731 --> 00:21:07,443 We started really getting worried. 381 00:21:07,467 --> 00:21:09,878 ♪♪ 382 00:21:09,902 --> 00:21:11,347 Have we lost the mission? 383 00:21:11,371 --> 00:21:15,573 ♪♪ 384 00:21:17,609 --> 00:21:20,489 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 385 00:21:20,513 --> 00:21:22,280 Man: Cinq, quatre. 386 00:21:26,652 --> 00:21:30,566 Parker: To do all of that in one mission 387 00:21:30,590 --> 00:21:33,102 is incredibly gutsy. 388 00:21:33,126 --> 00:21:35,671 ♪♪ 389 00:21:35,695 --> 00:21:38,874 Mccaughrean: We couldn't talk to it while it was in hibernation. 390 00:21:38,898 --> 00:21:40,409 We needed it to wake up... 391 00:21:40,433 --> 00:21:41,744 [ Ticking ] 392 00:21:41,768 --> 00:21:45,681 ...which it was due to do on the 20th of January 2014. 393 00:21:45,705 --> 00:21:47,182 ♪♪ 394 00:21:47,206 --> 00:21:49,685 It was building up tension at that stage. 395 00:21:49,709 --> 00:21:50,953 "Why it's not coming?" 396 00:21:50,977 --> 00:21:56,981 ♪♪ 397 00:21:59,151 --> 00:22:01,430 Mccaughrean: Then, suddenly, the signal came. 398 00:22:01,454 --> 00:22:04,166 [ Cheering, whistling, and applause ] 399 00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:07,269 Ferri: When the signal came was a big relief for me, personally. 400 00:22:07,293 --> 00:22:10,039 There was an explosion of joy. 401 00:22:10,063 --> 00:22:14,410 A little blip on a noise spectrum told us 402 00:22:14,434 --> 00:22:16,512 that it was there and it was calling home. 403 00:22:16,536 --> 00:22:22,184 ♪♪ 404 00:22:22,208 --> 00:22:23,619 Accomazzo: We made it. 405 00:22:23,643 --> 00:22:25,888 Yes, yes. [ Laughs ] 406 00:22:25,912 --> 00:22:29,124 That's a big success for everybody. 407 00:22:29,148 --> 00:22:30,959 Mccaughrean: We have it. We're ready. 408 00:22:30,983 --> 00:22:33,362 We now have the spacecraft back. 409 00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:34,863 We can go and do the rest of this mission 410 00:22:34,887 --> 00:22:36,165 and finally get to the comet. 411 00:22:36,189 --> 00:22:39,401 [ Cheering and applause ] 412 00:22:39,425 --> 00:22:43,272 ♪♪ 413 00:22:43,296 --> 00:22:45,040 But, now, the mission starts because, now, 414 00:22:45,064 --> 00:22:47,810 we have to get to the comet, fly around the comet, 415 00:22:47,834 --> 00:22:49,678 orbit the comet, and land on the comet, 416 00:22:49,702 --> 00:22:51,246 all within the next 10 months. 417 00:22:51,270 --> 00:22:55,417 ♪♪ 418 00:22:55,441 --> 00:22:59,021 Parker: Rosetta took 10 years from launch 419 00:22:59,045 --> 00:23:01,190 'til we finally got to the target 420 00:23:01,214 --> 00:23:02,658 that we were going to study. 421 00:23:02,682 --> 00:23:05,928 ♪♪ 422 00:23:05,952 --> 00:23:08,731 The comet we ended up deciding to go to 423 00:23:08,755 --> 00:23:11,500 was 67p/churyumov-gerasimenko. 424 00:23:11,524 --> 00:23:16,438 ♪♪ 425 00:23:16,462 --> 00:23:19,808 At the beginning, the comet was just a very small dot. 426 00:23:19,832 --> 00:23:22,845 ♪♪ 427 00:23:22,869 --> 00:23:24,947 And then, day by day, the comet was growing 428 00:23:24,971 --> 00:23:26,448 in the field of view of the camera. 429 00:23:26,472 --> 00:23:34,472 ♪♪ 430 00:23:34,747 --> 00:23:41,864 ♪♪ 431 00:23:41,888 --> 00:23:44,800 Ferri: We saw this incredible shape. 432 00:23:44,824 --> 00:23:47,770 Some people have described it as a rubber duck. 433 00:23:47,794 --> 00:23:54,710 ♪♪ 434 00:23:54,734 --> 00:23:57,913 ♪♪ 435 00:23:57,937 --> 00:24:02,584 Parker: Comet 67p is about four kilometers in size. 436 00:24:02,608 --> 00:24:06,588 ♪♪ 437 00:24:06,612 --> 00:24:09,825 If you were standing on the bottom of the comet, 438 00:24:09,849 --> 00:24:13,262 you might see a flat, dusty plain. 439 00:24:13,286 --> 00:24:16,064 ♪♪ 440 00:24:16,088 --> 00:24:18,233 If you were standing on the head of the comet, 441 00:24:18,257 --> 00:24:21,136 it might look more rocky. 442 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,739 If you were standing on the neck of the comet, 443 00:24:23,763 --> 00:24:26,975 you would be in this interesting valley, 444 00:24:26,999 --> 00:24:30,679 kilometer-high cliffs on either side, 445 00:24:30,703 --> 00:24:35,250 and running along the neck, between your legs, 446 00:24:35,274 --> 00:24:37,286 is a huge crack. 447 00:24:37,310 --> 00:24:40,022 ♪♪ 448 00:24:40,046 --> 00:24:44,860 There are so many different types of surfaces and variety, 449 00:24:44,884 --> 00:24:47,329 you could spend the rest of your life 450 00:24:47,353 --> 00:24:49,364 exploring every little part of the comet 451 00:24:49,388 --> 00:24:51,800 and not see the same type of thing twice. 452 00:24:51,824 --> 00:24:59,174 ♪♪ 453 00:24:59,198 --> 00:25:00,776 The first thing I thought was, 454 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:02,600 "we're never going to land on that thing." 455 00:25:05,637 --> 00:25:11,019 Accomazzo: It was the morning of the 12th of November 2004. 456 00:25:11,043 --> 00:25:14,857 There was excitement, but also tension for the upcoming events. 457 00:25:14,881 --> 00:25:16,158 ♪♪ 458 00:25:16,182 --> 00:25:18,961 Great news. We are go from the lander. 459 00:25:18,985 --> 00:25:20,496 The commands have already been sent 460 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:22,598 now, we just have to wait for separation. 461 00:25:22,622 --> 00:25:30,622 ♪♪ 462 00:25:30,696 --> 00:25:33,775 Ferri: Rosetta just pushed very gently away. 463 00:25:33,799 --> 00:25:36,245 It was like pushing it really like this. 464 00:25:36,269 --> 00:25:38,881 18 centimeters per second is nothing, like this. 465 00:25:38,905 --> 00:25:46,855 ♪♪ 466 00:25:46,879 --> 00:25:52,394 ♪♪ 467 00:25:52,418 --> 00:25:54,363 The fall lasted seven hours. 468 00:25:54,387 --> 00:25:57,366 ♪♪ 469 00:25:57,390 --> 00:26:00,869 They could get the images of philae getting closer 470 00:26:00,893 --> 00:26:02,671 to the surface, during the descent. 471 00:26:02,695 --> 00:26:05,707 ♪♪ 472 00:26:05,731 --> 00:26:08,644 [ Cheering, whistling, and applause ] 473 00:26:08,668 --> 00:26:12,314 ♪♪ 474 00:26:12,338 --> 00:26:14,049 Mccaughrean: As we got closer and closer, 475 00:26:14,073 --> 00:26:16,151 you know, the tension began to rise. 476 00:26:16,175 --> 00:26:22,157 ♪♪ 477 00:26:22,181 --> 00:26:25,527 I was looking at the data coming from philae. 478 00:26:25,551 --> 00:26:29,131 I wanted philae to survive the landing. 479 00:26:29,155 --> 00:26:31,099 So I was just staring at the screen, 480 00:26:31,123 --> 00:26:32,534 seeing this data coming. 481 00:26:32,558 --> 00:26:37,806 ♪♪ 482 00:26:37,830 --> 00:26:40,742 Accomazzo: We actually saw several subsystems activating. 483 00:26:40,766 --> 00:26:46,882 ♪♪ 484 00:26:46,906 --> 00:26:49,818 Ferri: We got the information that it had reached the surface. 485 00:26:49,842 --> 00:26:52,921 [ Cheering, whistling, and applause ] 486 00:26:52,945 --> 00:27:00,945 ♪♪ 487 00:27:03,022 --> 00:27:10,072 ♪♪ 488 00:27:10,096 --> 00:27:12,407 We definitely confirmed that the lander is on the surface 489 00:27:12,431 --> 00:27:15,210 and I leave it to Stephan. I think it's up to him to judge 490 00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:16,845 how it's going now on the lander. 491 00:27:16,869 --> 00:27:18,313 We were in a major success. 492 00:27:18,337 --> 00:27:20,749 We had landed on a comet. 493 00:27:20,773 --> 00:27:22,784 Accomazzo: This was the moment of the mission. 494 00:27:22,808 --> 00:27:24,620 This was a huge success. 495 00:27:24,644 --> 00:27:26,455 We are sitting on the surface 496 00:27:26,479 --> 00:27:28,156 philae's talking to us. 497 00:27:28,180 --> 00:27:29,725 More data to come. 498 00:27:29,749 --> 00:27:32,928 [ Cheering and whistling intensify ] 499 00:27:32,952 --> 00:27:34,363 Philae started taking pictures, 500 00:27:34,387 --> 00:27:36,098 taking measurements, doing its jobs. 501 00:27:36,122 --> 00:27:38,355 "I'm on the surface, yeah. I touched down." 502 00:27:42,193 --> 00:27:45,407 [ Camera shutter clicking ] Yes, it had touched down on the surface, 503 00:27:45,431 --> 00:27:47,442 but it hadn't stopped moving. 504 00:27:47,466 --> 00:27:48,510 It's the redundant one. 505 00:27:48,534 --> 00:27:50,145 The nominal one, one three. 506 00:27:50,169 --> 00:27:53,782 Nominal is one three eight five. 507 00:27:53,806 --> 00:27:56,018 ♪♪ 508 00:27:56,042 --> 00:27:58,520 It took us 10 to 15 minutes 509 00:27:58,544 --> 00:28:00,489 to realize that something was wrong. 510 00:28:00,513 --> 00:28:03,225 This one is not going down, though. 511 00:28:03,249 --> 00:28:05,794 The lander, the elevation did not go down. 512 00:28:05,818 --> 00:28:08,063 The same resolution. It's probably due to -- 513 00:28:08,087 --> 00:28:12,100 Accomazzo: We realized that the radio signal was not stable. 514 00:28:12,124 --> 00:28:13,669 It couldn't have been on the surface. 515 00:28:13,693 --> 00:28:17,239 It was definitely lifted up and flying again. 516 00:28:17,263 --> 00:28:18,607 How far is it going to bounce? 517 00:28:18,631 --> 00:28:20,242 It's going to bounce. 518 00:28:20,266 --> 00:28:22,444 I said, "it's not possible. It cannot be." 519 00:28:22,468 --> 00:28:24,346 ♪♪ 520 00:28:24,370 --> 00:28:26,148 Quite quickly, people began to realize 521 00:28:26,172 --> 00:28:27,416 we must've bounced. 522 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:33,822 ♪♪ 523 00:28:33,846 --> 00:28:34,990 It bounced. 524 00:28:35,014 --> 00:28:37,225 It had a very long travel... 525 00:28:37,249 --> 00:28:38,894 [ Static crackles, beep ] 526 00:28:38,918 --> 00:28:40,796 And then, it hit the edge of a cliff, 527 00:28:40,820 --> 00:28:44,266 [ static crackling ] Started tumbling. 528 00:28:44,290 --> 00:28:45,634 Ferri: We were scared to death. 529 00:28:45,658 --> 00:28:46,990 ♪♪ 530 00:28:49,327 --> 00:28:51,373 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 531 00:28:51,397 --> 00:28:55,477 ♪♪ 532 00:28:55,501 --> 00:28:57,012 We were in a major success. 533 00:28:57,036 --> 00:28:58,480 We had landed on a comet. 534 00:28:58,504 --> 00:29:00,816 [ Laughing ] [ Applause ] 535 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,351 It took us 10 to 15 minutes 536 00:29:03,375 --> 00:29:05,120 to realize that something was wrong. 537 00:29:05,144 --> 00:29:07,089 This one is not going down, though. 538 00:29:07,113 --> 00:29:08,724 It hit the edge of a cliff... 539 00:29:08,748 --> 00:29:10,992 [ Static crackling ] 540 00:29:11,016 --> 00:29:12,327 ...started tumbling. 541 00:29:12,351 --> 00:29:14,429 ♪♪ 542 00:29:14,453 --> 00:29:15,630 Ferri: We were scared to death. 543 00:29:15,654 --> 00:29:18,767 My fear was we are going to lose the contact now 544 00:29:18,791 --> 00:29:20,469 and, if we lose the contact, that's it. 545 00:29:20,493 --> 00:29:22,838 This is the end of the mission of philae. 546 00:29:22,862 --> 00:29:29,377 ♪♪ 547 00:29:29,401 --> 00:29:31,980 Mccaughrean: And then, finally, after two hours, 548 00:29:32,004 --> 00:29:34,783 it touched down in a very dark place. 549 00:29:34,807 --> 00:29:38,854 ♪♪ 550 00:29:38,878 --> 00:29:40,522 Then, I found out later, 551 00:29:40,546 --> 00:29:42,624 the signal was abruptly interrupted 552 00:29:42,648 --> 00:29:44,493 and philae wouldn't transmit anymore. 553 00:29:44,517 --> 00:29:47,729 ♪♪ 554 00:29:47,753 --> 00:29:50,599 We haven't the faintest idea when the signal would come back. 555 00:29:50,623 --> 00:29:58,406 ♪♪ 556 00:29:58,430 --> 00:30:00,008 When I came in in the morning, 557 00:30:00,032 --> 00:30:02,244 we see alarms coming into the control system 558 00:30:02,268 --> 00:30:03,779 and it's the signal of philae. 559 00:30:03,803 --> 00:30:09,017 ♪♪ 560 00:30:09,041 --> 00:30:10,852 This little baby had been surviving 561 00:30:10,876 --> 00:30:12,354 on the surface of the comet. 562 00:30:12,378 --> 00:30:15,290 ♪♪ 563 00:30:15,314 --> 00:30:17,859 So we started receiving data. Guess what we get. 564 00:30:17,883 --> 00:30:19,795 The first image of the surface of the comet. 565 00:30:19,819 --> 00:30:22,330 Here, real-time, we saw it real-time, coming in. 566 00:30:22,354 --> 00:30:29,070 ♪♪ 567 00:30:29,094 --> 00:30:32,440 ♪♪ 568 00:30:32,464 --> 00:30:33,608 This is just fantastic. 569 00:30:33,632 --> 00:30:35,844 It's something that happens once in our life. 570 00:30:35,868 --> 00:30:41,850 ♪♪ 571 00:30:41,874 --> 00:30:43,685 You see the surface of the comet. 572 00:30:43,709 --> 00:30:46,421 You see a portion of the leg 573 00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:48,423 and you have the feeling that there is something odd. 574 00:30:48,447 --> 00:30:52,861 Indeed, we found philae was tilted on its side, 575 00:30:52,885 --> 00:30:55,330 but it was just the surface of the comet. 576 00:30:55,354 --> 00:31:03,138 ♪♪ 577 00:31:03,162 --> 00:31:07,509 ♪♪ 578 00:31:07,533 --> 00:31:09,678 The images came back and it was then 579 00:31:09,702 --> 00:31:11,513 that we realized that we were in this place 580 00:31:11,537 --> 00:31:13,582 that was almost completely shady. 581 00:31:13,606 --> 00:31:17,586 ♪♪ 582 00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:21,122 Ferri: It was in a dark area, so it would have not 583 00:31:21,146 --> 00:31:23,425 had the chance to recharge the batteries. 584 00:31:23,449 --> 00:31:26,094 ♪♪ 585 00:31:26,118 --> 00:31:27,462 We knew then that we were going 586 00:31:27,486 --> 00:31:29,297 to run out of power after three days. 587 00:31:29,321 --> 00:31:31,700 ♪♪ 588 00:31:31,724 --> 00:31:35,470 The whole three days on the comet 589 00:31:35,494 --> 00:31:40,175 were certainly three of the most incredible days of my life. 590 00:31:40,199 --> 00:31:45,947 ♪♪ 591 00:31:45,971 --> 00:31:49,784 When you see the images, you get this very strong feeling 592 00:31:49,808 --> 00:31:53,221 you are on a completely new world. 593 00:31:53,245 --> 00:31:55,523 You are seeing a new world for the first time. 594 00:31:55,547 --> 00:32:00,095 ♪♪ 595 00:32:00,119 --> 00:32:04,666 The formations were really totally unexpected. 596 00:32:04,690 --> 00:32:07,302 ♪♪ 597 00:32:07,326 --> 00:32:10,605 Fractal geometries. 598 00:32:10,629 --> 00:32:13,608 Ruptures everywhere, at every dimension, 599 00:32:13,632 --> 00:32:15,911 from millimeters to centimeters. 600 00:32:15,935 --> 00:32:19,014 ♪♪ 601 00:32:19,038 --> 00:32:24,019 It gives you the impression of how the surface suffers. 602 00:32:24,043 --> 00:32:25,954 The extreme variation of temperatures 603 00:32:25,978 --> 00:32:28,657 by getting close to the sun and then back away. 604 00:32:28,681 --> 00:32:31,493 It's a continual thermal stress. 605 00:32:31,517 --> 00:32:32,961 ♪♪ 606 00:32:32,985 --> 00:32:36,231 After three days, it was Friday afternoon. 607 00:32:36,255 --> 00:32:38,867 It was clear that the battery was getting to the end. 608 00:32:38,891 --> 00:32:40,435 ♪♪ 609 00:32:40,459 --> 00:32:44,739 You could see philae fading out during the night, 610 00:32:44,763 --> 00:32:45,907 during the last contact. 611 00:32:45,931 --> 00:32:53,915 ♪♪ 612 00:32:53,939 --> 00:32:55,183 But if we look carefully, 613 00:32:55,207 --> 00:32:57,319 the bulk of the scientific mission of rosetta 614 00:32:57,343 --> 00:32:59,587 still had to come because we flew there 615 00:32:59,611 --> 00:33:02,457 to follow the comet in its orbit around the sun. 616 00:33:02,481 --> 00:33:07,162 ♪♪ 617 00:33:07,186 --> 00:33:09,431 The comet's getting close to the sun. 618 00:33:09,455 --> 00:33:11,032 ♪♪ 619 00:33:11,056 --> 00:33:13,668 Its activity increased significantly. 620 00:33:13,692 --> 00:33:18,707 ♪♪ 621 00:33:18,731 --> 00:33:21,042 Ferri: We could really see how the surface 622 00:33:21,066 --> 00:33:23,878 is completely revolutioned by the sun. 623 00:33:23,902 --> 00:33:26,314 ♪♪ 624 00:33:26,338 --> 00:33:27,615 There were explosions. 625 00:33:27,639 --> 00:33:34,622 ♪♪ 626 00:33:34,646 --> 00:33:39,160 Holes observed in the surface with a underground structure, 627 00:33:39,184 --> 00:33:41,930 which is still, today, totally unexplained. 628 00:33:41,954 --> 00:33:48,970 ♪♪ 629 00:33:48,994 --> 00:33:52,073 There were landslides that we have observed. 630 00:33:52,097 --> 00:33:58,947 ♪♪ 631 00:33:58,971 --> 00:34:02,317 You could see jets, gas jets, fountains, 632 00:34:02,341 --> 00:34:03,651 coming out of the comet. 633 00:34:03,675 --> 00:34:06,054 ♪♪ 634 00:34:06,078 --> 00:34:09,190 You could see, actually, like snowstorms 635 00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:10,825 going around the comet. 636 00:34:10,849 --> 00:34:17,332 ♪♪ 637 00:34:17,356 --> 00:34:21,069 ♪♪ 638 00:34:21,093 --> 00:34:24,672 Parker: So, on rosetta, we had a dozen instruments 639 00:34:24,696 --> 00:34:27,842 and not all of these instruments take pictures. 640 00:34:27,866 --> 00:34:29,744 ♪♪ 641 00:34:29,768 --> 00:34:31,579 They get data in different ways, 642 00:34:31,603 --> 00:34:36,251 such as the spectrum or measuring molecules. 643 00:34:36,275 --> 00:34:37,752 ♪♪ 644 00:34:37,776 --> 00:34:40,221 Squiggly-line data. 645 00:34:40,245 --> 00:34:43,758 And those squiggly-line data 646 00:34:43,782 --> 00:34:46,194 can sometimes have much more information 647 00:34:46,218 --> 00:34:47,629 than the pictures do. 648 00:34:47,653 --> 00:34:50,532 ♪♪ 649 00:34:50,556 --> 00:34:52,634 The rosetta instrument found that there is 650 00:34:52,658 --> 00:34:56,071 molecular oxygen trapped into the nucleus of the comet. 651 00:34:56,095 --> 00:34:57,705 ♪♪ 652 00:34:57,729 --> 00:35:00,208 Molecular oxygen couldn't have survived 653 00:35:00,232 --> 00:35:02,977 the formation of the solar system, 654 00:35:03,001 --> 00:35:05,980 therefore, it means that it was inside the nucleus of the comet 655 00:35:06,004 --> 00:35:08,183 before the formation of the solar system. 656 00:35:08,207 --> 00:35:10,819 ♪♪ 657 00:35:10,843 --> 00:35:12,954 Parker: We were able to see molecules, 658 00:35:12,978 --> 00:35:16,324 some of which had never been seen before. 659 00:35:16,348 --> 00:35:19,260 For instance, glycine, the amino acid, 660 00:35:19,284 --> 00:35:22,097 a building block of life. 661 00:35:22,121 --> 00:35:25,133 Accomazzo: And if the oxygen was trapped in the nucleus 662 00:35:25,157 --> 00:35:27,068 before the formation of the solar system, 663 00:35:27,092 --> 00:35:30,605 then, also, the amino acids were trapped there. 664 00:35:30,629 --> 00:35:33,074 If these two things, which are the ingredients of life, 665 00:35:33,098 --> 00:35:35,810 were trapped there before the formation of the solar system, 666 00:35:35,834 --> 00:35:37,712 they are not specific to our solar system, 667 00:35:37,736 --> 00:35:40,715 so the likelihood that life has formed 668 00:35:40,739 --> 00:35:41,950 somewhere else as well. 669 00:35:41,974 --> 00:35:43,807 ♪♪ 670 00:35:45,743 --> 00:35:47,789 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 671 00:35:47,813 --> 00:35:52,127 ♪♪ 672 00:35:52,151 --> 00:35:55,763 So, on rosetta, we had a dozen instruments 673 00:35:55,787 --> 00:35:59,067 and not all of these instruments take pictures. 674 00:35:59,091 --> 00:36:01,002 ♪♪ 675 00:36:01,026 --> 00:36:03,204 They get data in different ways. 676 00:36:03,228 --> 00:36:06,508 ♪♪ 677 00:36:06,532 --> 00:36:08,643 We were able to see molecules, 678 00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:12,013 some of which had never been seen before. 679 00:36:12,037 --> 00:36:14,916 For instance, glycine, the amino acid, 680 00:36:14,940 --> 00:36:16,651 a building block of life. 681 00:36:16,675 --> 00:36:21,178 ♪♪ 682 00:36:26,784 --> 00:36:30,064 ♪♪ 683 00:36:30,088 --> 00:36:33,701 Ferri: This confirmation is very important 684 00:36:33,725 --> 00:36:36,504 because it shows that comets could have been the objects 685 00:36:36,528 --> 00:36:39,874 that brought the components of life onto earth. 686 00:36:39,898 --> 00:36:45,380 ♪♪ 687 00:36:45,404 --> 00:36:49,884 ♪♪ 688 00:36:49,908 --> 00:36:53,888 As we had been with the comet for more than two years, 689 00:36:53,912 --> 00:36:56,124 we were moving back out again away from the sun. 690 00:36:56,148 --> 00:36:57,892 ♪♪ 691 00:36:57,916 --> 00:37:01,563 Accomazzo: The mission had accomplished all the results. 692 00:37:01,587 --> 00:37:04,132 Nobody had thought about how to finish the mission. 693 00:37:04,156 --> 00:37:08,102 ♪♪ 694 00:37:08,126 --> 00:37:09,437 Ferri: Shall we hibernate again, 695 00:37:09,461 --> 00:37:12,540 taking the risk of a much longer hibernation? 696 00:37:12,564 --> 00:37:13,641 ♪♪ 697 00:37:13,665 --> 00:37:15,577 Shall we switch it off in September, 698 00:37:15,601 --> 00:37:17,545 that's it, bye-bye, rosetta? 699 00:37:17,569 --> 00:37:20,381 ♪♪ 700 00:37:20,405 --> 00:37:22,684 Then, we propose to land 701 00:37:22,708 --> 00:37:24,252 with the mother ship on the comet. 702 00:37:24,276 --> 00:37:25,887 It's not designed for landing, 703 00:37:25,911 --> 00:37:27,989 but this was taken as a good idea 704 00:37:28,013 --> 00:37:31,359 because this would allow us to observe and measure 705 00:37:31,383 --> 00:37:33,695 the last few kilometers, where we had never been. 706 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:36,064 ♪♪ 707 00:37:36,088 --> 00:37:38,366 Mccaughrean: The decision was, indeed, taken to say, 708 00:37:38,390 --> 00:37:39,901 "let's go down. Let's do it." 709 00:37:39,925 --> 00:37:42,670 ♪♪ 710 00:37:42,694 --> 00:37:44,872 Parker: And so we got closer and closer, 711 00:37:44,896 --> 00:37:47,408 getting more and more detailed images 712 00:37:47,432 --> 00:37:49,143 than we had ever had before. 713 00:37:49,167 --> 00:37:54,949 ♪♪ 714 00:37:54,973 --> 00:37:59,254 Only a few days before the end of the mission... 715 00:37:59,278 --> 00:38:03,491 Right there, at the edge of the image, was a shape. 716 00:38:03,515 --> 00:38:05,893 You could see there, in a sort of crack 717 00:38:05,917 --> 00:38:09,964 in between some rocks on the comet, in shadow. 718 00:38:09,988 --> 00:38:12,800 Finally, we got a picture of philae 719 00:38:12,824 --> 00:38:14,302 on the surface of the comet. 720 00:38:14,326 --> 00:38:20,975 ♪♪ 721 00:38:20,999 --> 00:38:23,711 Good morning. Morgen. Bonjour. 722 00:38:23,735 --> 00:38:25,346 Bienvenue, welcome, 723 00:38:25,370 --> 00:38:27,015 for rosetta's grand finale. 724 00:38:27,039 --> 00:38:28,316 We are here, live, 725 00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:31,219 in rosetta control room at esoc in Germany. 726 00:38:31,243 --> 00:38:32,987 So, by this point in September, 727 00:38:33,011 --> 00:38:36,024 we had planned to put rosetta down onto the comet. 728 00:38:36,048 --> 00:38:38,726 Woman: It is a special day today. 729 00:38:38,750 --> 00:38:42,530 The European space agency's comet-chasing rosetta mission 730 00:38:42,554 --> 00:38:43,765 is coming to an end. 731 00:38:43,789 --> 00:38:45,033 It will be the end of a mission 732 00:38:45,057 --> 00:38:50,305 that lasted 4,595 days in space. 733 00:38:50,329 --> 00:38:55,009 Everything we had put into this, in terms of the human story, 734 00:38:55,033 --> 00:38:59,514 but the science, this several-decade-long effort 735 00:38:59,538 --> 00:39:03,217 was coming to an end and we were choosing to do it. 736 00:39:03,241 --> 00:39:05,420 And even sitting here, now, several years later, 737 00:39:05,444 --> 00:39:07,221 I mean, it brings back those emotions. 738 00:39:07,245 --> 00:39:09,691 ♪♪ 739 00:39:09,715 --> 00:39:13,328 We commanded the spacecraft to do the final plunge 740 00:39:13,352 --> 00:39:15,530 down to the surface of the comet. 741 00:39:15,554 --> 00:39:18,700 ♪♪ 742 00:39:18,724 --> 00:39:23,004 Woman: The spacecraft is taking images during the descent. 743 00:39:23,028 --> 00:39:30,878 ♪♪ 744 00:39:30,902 --> 00:39:33,448 Ferri: We could see some of the images and we could see the surface 745 00:39:33,472 --> 00:39:36,317 coming closer and closer and time passing by 746 00:39:36,341 --> 00:39:39,253 and we knew that the mission was coming to an end. 747 00:39:39,277 --> 00:39:46,994 ♪♪ 748 00:39:47,018 --> 00:39:49,030 Parker: It got closer and closer. 749 00:39:49,054 --> 00:39:51,566 ♪♪ 750 00:39:51,590 --> 00:39:52,834 'Til, finally... 751 00:39:52,858 --> 00:39:57,372 ♪♪ 752 00:39:57,396 --> 00:39:59,574 ...we lost contact. 753 00:39:59,598 --> 00:40:01,042 And that was the end of rosetta. 754 00:40:01,066 --> 00:40:09,066 ♪♪ 755 00:40:09,641 --> 00:40:13,054 When the signal shut down on that day, 756 00:40:13,078 --> 00:40:14,188 people were shellshocked. 757 00:40:14,212 --> 00:40:17,191 I mean, even though they knew it was coming. 758 00:40:17,215 --> 00:40:18,693 But I remember walking around the corridors, 759 00:40:18,717 --> 00:40:21,262 people just leaning up against walls, 760 00:40:21,286 --> 00:40:23,064 just staring into the distance. 761 00:40:23,088 --> 00:40:29,203 ♪♪ 762 00:40:29,227 --> 00:40:31,906 It was -- yeah, I mean, it's something 763 00:40:31,930 --> 00:40:34,275 [ crying ] Those of us who were involved will never forget. 764 00:40:34,299 --> 00:40:42,299 ♪♪ 765 00:40:43,608 --> 00:40:46,220 ♪♪ 766 00:40:46,244 --> 00:40:48,289 It was -- 767 00:40:48,313 --> 00:40:49,524 It was quite an adventure. 768 00:40:49,548 --> 00:40:57,548 ♪♪ 769 00:40:58,123 --> 00:41:01,803 Our understanding of how asteroids and comets 770 00:41:01,827 --> 00:41:07,141 might contribute to our existence -- 771 00:41:07,165 --> 00:41:10,111 We know the kind of rocks that appear on the surface. 772 00:41:10,135 --> 00:41:12,113 We know the minerals in those rocks. 773 00:41:12,137 --> 00:41:14,382 We know about the organic molecules. 774 00:41:14,406 --> 00:41:16,050 We know about the water. 775 00:41:16,074 --> 00:41:18,653 None of these things, we would've learned 776 00:41:18,677 --> 00:41:22,123 by looking at asteroids and comets from a distance. 777 00:41:22,147 --> 00:41:23,825 ♪♪ 778 00:41:23,849 --> 00:41:26,060 Each time we further our knowledge, 779 00:41:26,084 --> 00:41:28,129 we get a little bit closer 780 00:41:28,153 --> 00:41:32,834 to the story of "where did we come from?" 781 00:41:32,858 --> 00:41:39,674 ♪♪ 782 00:41:39,698 --> 00:41:47,698 ♪♪ 783 00:41:49,674 --> 00:41:57,674 ♪♪ 784 00:41:59,684 --> 00:42:03,152 ♪♪