Some 150 Palestinians use makeshift bridges to cross fence in Qalandiya; in Hizma, protesters blocked road, putting Palestinian flags on IDF jeep; protesters return to Palestinian territory shortly after crossing into Israel... Turkish PM Davutoğlu says Turkey will work to protect Jerusalem from Israel's brutal attacks, as Kerry announces visit to Jordan in bid to calm tensions... Population registry adds classification; Christian sect was previously labeled 'Arab'; move causes controversy as some accuse government of trying to split Arab population... European Probe to Attempt Bold Comet Landing This Weekby Space.com, staff | November 09, 2014 08:18am ET 49
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176 Submit 3 The European Space Agency is going to attempt to land a probe on the surface of a comet next week. If successful, the soft-landing will be the first of its kind in history. The Rosetta probe is expected to release its Philae lander down to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Wednesday (Nov. 12). Officials on Earth won't know if Philae survived its difficult journey to its landing site (named Agilkia) for about seven hours after the probe is released from Rosetta. Scientists are hoping that Rosetta and Philae will be able to answer some burning questions they have about the icy comets in the solar system. "We're flying close to a comet which basically is a time machine containing clues to the composition of the solar system and its very origin some 4 billion years ago," Fred Jansen, ESA Rosetta mission manager, said in a webcast last week. "We really can look back." [See images beamed back by the Rosetta mission] You can watch coverage of the comet landing live on Space.com. The European Space Agency and NASA will host webcasts on Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday after officials on Earth have confirmation of the lander's successful touchdown on Comet 67P/C-G. Rosetta and Philae launched to space in 2004. It took them about 10 years to meet up with Comet 67P/C-G, arriving at the comet in August. Once it touches down on the comet's surface, Philae will release a harpoon that should keep it in place on its landing spot. Philae will carry 10 instruments down to the surface of the comet. The science tools are designed to take photos, analyze the molecular composition of the comet, drill into the cosmic body, and perform other experiments. Rosetta has 11 instruments onboard. "After touchdown on Nov. 12, the Philae lander will obtain the first images ever taken from a comet's surface. It will also drill into the surface to study the composition, and witness close up how a comet changes as its exposure to the sun varies," NASA officials said of Rosetta in a statement. Philae gets its name from an obelisk found on an island in the Nile River, and Rosetta is named for the Rosetta Stone — a tablet that helped archaeologists translate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Rosetta should continue orbiting the comet through the object's closest approach to the sun in August 2015. This timing will give scientists an opportunity to see how the comet changes as it gets closer to the star and begins to heat up. Follow Miriam Kramer @mirikramer and Google+. Follow us@Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Original article on Space.com. PM, Lapid spar as concerns over spread of unrest leads to government conflict; Netanyahu promotes zero-tolerance; Lapid decries ministers' incitement... Arab students protest at Tel Aviv, Haifa universities; partial strike in businesses in both Arab and mixed communities as some businesses open their doors; 'If we stay quiet, then police might do this again elsewhere, and we don't know who's next,' says business owner who joined strike... New bill will see West Bank military commander ratify Israeli law as military decrees in territory, thus extending Israel's law to settlements without formally annexing them; supporters say bill will protect settlers rights, while leftist says 'its apartheid policy'... Earlier, IAEA said Tehran stalling its work by failing to cooperate, meaning full deal by November 24 deadline unlikely... |
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