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Comet landing ‘a big step for human civilisation’

Scientists have successfully landed a probe on the surface of a comet billions of kilometres from earth, in a world first that marks a new frontier in space exploration.

The Philae lander successfully touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko overnight, more than a decade after it was launched into space.

• All systems go for historic comet landing
• Europe to make history with comet landing

The landing is a feat of space engineering, with the comet travelling toward the sun at more than 18 kilometres per second.

Scientists hope the landing will help discover more about comets, which are predominantly clusters of dust and ice.

The Rosetta spacecraft carrying the Philae lander was launched into space in 2004, with the European Space Agency anxiously waiting for it to reach the comet for a decade.

European Space Agency director general, Jean-Jacques Dordain said the moment was a first for space discovery.

“This is a big step for human civilisation,” Mr Dordain said.

“Our ambitious Rosetta mission has secured another place in the history books.”

The Rosetta mission was approved in 1993 and has cost AUD$1.95 billion.

The European Space Agency is a consortium of 20 European countries dedicated to the exploration of space.

– with AFP

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