If everything goes according to plan, Philae will touch down on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the late afternoon (for Europe) of Wednesday 12 November.Site J, the landing site on the ‘head’ of the comet’s nucleus chosen unanimously mid-September by the mission’s scientists and engineers, remains the primary site and Site C on the comet’s ‘body’ the back-up site.

Launch preparations are drawing to a close at the Dombarovski Cosmodrome near the small Russian town of Yasny. The Picard and PRISMA satellites were encapsulated under the Dnepr launcher fairing today, Friday, in readiness for launch scheduled on 15 June.

The upper composite of the Dnepr launch vehicle with the Picard and PRISMA satellites was transferred this Tuesday to the launch silo. Initial electrical tests have begun and will continue in the days ahead. The 2 satellites are now patiently awaiting lift-off in the silo until launch day on 15 June.