Space agency releases 1st picture from comet

Rosetta’s lander Philae is safely on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as these first two CIVA images confirm. One of the lander’s three feet can be seen in the foreground. The image is a two-image mosaic. -courtesy ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA — Rosetta’s lander Philae is safely on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as the CIVA image confirms. One of the lander’s three feet can be seen in the foreground. The image is a two-image mosaic. -courtesy ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA

BERLIN (AP) — The European Space Agency has released the first picture taken by its Philae probe on the surface of a comet.

Philae became the first spacecraft to land on a comet when it touched down Wednesday on the comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The photo released Thursday shows a rocky surface with one of the lander’s three feet.

Harpoons meant to anchor the lander to the surface failed to work properly, causing Philae to bounce twice.

But ESA says the lander is stable. Gerhard Schwehm, a scientist on the Rosetta mission, told The Associated Press on Thursday that it may still be possible to fire the harpoons but in any case the lander is “very healthy.”