Advertisement

Philae Finds 'Building Blocks' Of Life On Comet

Philae Finds 'Building Blocks' Of Life On Comet

The Philae space probe detected at least 16 organic compounds after crash landing on a comet last year, with four of them never previously detected on the space rock.

Scientists have analysed the data gathered by Philae during 60 hours of experiments carried out by the craft before its batteries died last November.

The craft used two separate instruments to "sniff" for molecules during its mission on the 67D / Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet.

"Comets are loaded with all the raw materials like water, CO2, methane, ammonia, needed to assemble more complex organic molecules, perhaps sparked by UV-photons from the Sun or cosmic rays, or in the shock that occurs when a comet hits the surface of a planet like the young Earth," said Mark McCaughrean, a senior scientific adviser at the European Space Agency.

In an article published in the journal Science, researchers said it was not yet known whether the complex molecules found in the comet were made in the early solar system, or formed later.

"Either way, it seems that comets are pretty good places to find the building blocks of molecules which later on could be used for life," Mr McCaughrean said.

Scientists also gained new insights into the comet's rocky terrain and its unexpectedly hard surface, which may prove crucial to future comet missions.

"We have definitely learned at least one thing with this first comet landing: Bouncing is a bigger problem than a possible sinking into the ground," said Philae project manager Stephan Ulamec.

Philae woke up from hibernation unexpectedly last month, although scientists at the German space agency DLR have not been able to re-establish a stable connection.