--- title: Philae Comet Could Be Home to Alien Microbial Life, Scientists Say description: Two top astronomers say the comet that is now home to the Philae lander could also be inhabited by microbial alien life. canonical: https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/ author: Helen Regan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-06T08:59:04.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T05:21:20.000Z article:section: Science og:title: Comet Could Be Home to Alien Life, Say Scientists og:description: Special conditions suggest microbial organisms could lurk under the surface. og:url: https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdfdf632259beb24e/698859a50a4a2271939c5044/philae-comet-rosetta.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: This handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which landed on the comet's surface on Nov. 13, 2014. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Comet Could Be Home to Alien Life, Say Scientists twitter:description: Special conditions suggest microbial organisms could lurk under the surface. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdfdf632259beb24e/698859a50a4a2271939c5044/philae-comet-rosetta.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 01:17 video:published: 2015-06-14 section: science topics: Philae lander, comet 67P/C-G, Rosetta Orbiter, space exploration, battery power, solar charging, hibernation, comet composition genre: news report tones: hopeful, informative, measured, cautious emotions: hope (medium), anticipation (medium), curiosity (low) sentiment: positive audience: science enthusiasts, space news readers, general public, students organizations: European Space Agency products: Philae lander, Rosetta Orbiter transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # The Philae Comet Could Be Home to Microbial Alien Life, Scientists Say > Sponsored content. 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Future Proof is TIME's weekly climate and energy newsletter, written by senior correspondent Justin Worland. It connects the energy transition to the decisions reshaping business, technology, policy and markets. #### Where can I follow the energy transition as a business story? Future Proof covers climate and energy as an economic and business story rather than only an environmental one. It publishes every Friday and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes Future Proof? Justin Worland, a senior correspondent at TIME and an award-winning climate journalist, writes Future Proof. #### Is Future Proof free? Yes. Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-futureproof-2026q3/newsletters?i=7586a466-b639-4a0e-919b-c617debd1d8b&cr=time-nl-futureproof-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Philae Lander Phones Home After 7-Month Nap On Comet [Watch (HLS stream): Philae Lander Phones Home After 7-Month Nap On Comet](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fITy9wvy.m3u8) (1:17)  _Published 2015-06-14. The Philae lander has enough power to resume some science operations on comet 67P-CG, according to mission controllers at the European Space Agency._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary The video reports that the Philae lander on comet 67P/C-G has come back online and contacted Earth after hibernating for seven months. The European Space Agency recorded 85 seconds of contact through the Rosetta Orbiter, during which Philae sent data it had collected. Controllers say Philae has enough power to resume science operations, though the connection remains spotty. The segment explains that a landing complication left the lander in a cliff's shadow, reducing its sunlight and charging time. ## Key points - Philae has come back online and made contact with Earth after hibernating for seven months on the comet's surface. (00:00) - The European Space Agency recorded 85 seconds of contact through the Rosetta Orbiter, during which Philae passed on collected data. (00:08) - Philae reports a charge of 24 watts, roughly 17 percent of its battery capacity, enough to resume science operations. (00:19) - Resumed operations could include drilling into the comet's surface to analyze its composition in more detail. (00:25) - Philae shut down in November 2014 when landing complications put it in the shadow of a cliff instead of direct sunlight. (00:30) - Philae gets about 90 minutes of daily sunlight, rather than the six-plus hours its designers had initially planned for. (00:44) - After the 85-second message, ground stations lost contact again, and the connection is still spotty. (01:02) - Controllers hope that as the comet orbits closer to the sun, Philae will get more sunlight for a longer period to keep going. (01:11) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:30] Philae's return and recovered contact. The lander re-establishes contact with Earth and reports its battery charge and the data it transmitted. - [00:30 to 00:52] Why the lander shut down. A landing complication placed Philae in a cliff's shadow, cutting its solar charging and leading to hibernation. - [00:52 to 01:17] Limited contact and hopes ahead. Scientists see a chance to resume experiments, but contact is spotty and controllers hope for more sunlight. ## Key quotes - [00:00] narrator: "The Philae lander has come back online and made contact with Earth after hibernating for seven months" - [00:52] narrator: "the mission became a waiting game." - [01:02] narrator: "the connection is still spotty." ## Questions this video answers - Has the Philae lander come back online after its hibernation? [00:00] - How much battery power does Philae currently have? [00:19] - Why did Philae shut down and receive less sunlight than planned? [00:30] - Will Philae be able to continue operating in the future? [01:11] by [Helen Regan](https://time.com/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:21 AM UTCPublished: Jul 6, 2015 8:59 AM UTC The comet that is home to the probe, Philae, may also be home to microbial life. Watch Know Right Now to find out more. by [Helen Regan](https://time.com/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:21 AM UTCPublished: Jul 6, 2015 8:59 AM UTC Two top astronomers say the [comet](http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jul/06/philae-comet-could-be-home-to-alien-life-say-top-scientists) that is now home to the Philae lander could also be inhabited by microbial alien life. Several characteristics of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, such as its organic-rich black crust, are best explained by the presence of living organisms beneath its icy surface, reports _The Guardian._ Astronomer and astrobiologist Chandra Wickramasinghe and his colleague Max Willis from the University of Cardiff believe comets like 67P could be home to microbes similar to “extremophiles,” which live in the most inhospitable parts of earth. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta craft, which is orbiting the comet, is also said to have picked up strange “clusters” of organic material that resemble viral particles. **UPDATE: Scientists have** [**poured cold water**](http://time.com/3947237/philae-microbial-alien-life/) **on the claims by Willis and Wickramasinghe that 67P was likely hospitable to alien life.** \[[_Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jul/06/philae-comet-could-be-home-to-alien-life-say-top-scientists)\] ### PHOTOS: 20 Breathtaking Images of Earth From Space  Aleppo, Syria, May 26, 2013 – The Citadel of Aleppo – medieval fortified palace DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Belfast, Northern Ireland, Nov. 3, 2013 – “Wish,” a large-scale art work DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Utah, USA, April 22, 2013 – Colorado River DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Cuanza River, Angola, April 28, 2013 – Cambambe Dam DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Doha, Qatar, March 4, 2013 – Artificial island spanning nearly four million sq meters. DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Dunalley, Australia, Jan. 6, 2013 – fires, false color image (red = healthy vegetation) DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Australia, April 22, 2013 – Great Barrier Reef DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Gwadar coast, Pakistan Sept. 29, 2013 – new island created by earthquake in Pakistan DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Croatia, Feb. 16, 2013 – Galešnjak (Island of Love) DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Hong Kong, China May 9, 2013 – giant rubber duck DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, March 22, 2013 – Manam Volcano DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Namib Desert, Namibia, May 13, 2013 – Sossusvlie area DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Naples, Italy, Feb. 19 2013 – Mount Vesuvius DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Niger, Feb. 13, 2013 – Arlit Uranium Mine DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Schooner Cays, Bahamas, May 26, 2013 DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Sochi, Russia, March 17, 2013 – Site of 2014 winter Olympics DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Near the city of Sur, Oman, Feb. 13, 2013 – massive “green tide” DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Valencia, Spain, July 19, 2013 – Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia and Gulliver Park with an enormous fiberglass model of Lemuel Gulliver trapped DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Versailles, France, Aug. 20, 2013 – Palace of Versailles DigitalGlobe—Getty Images  Xi'an, China, Sept. 24, 2013 – Shiyuan Park DigitalGlobe—Getty Images ## Transcript [00:00] The Philae lander has come back online and made [00:02] contact with Earth after hibernating for seven months [00:05] on the surface of comet 67P / C- G. The European [00:08] Space Agency recorded 85 seconds of contact through [00:12] the Rosetta Orbiter, during which Philae passed on [00:14] current and historical data it had collected on [00:17] conditions on the surface of the comet. Philae is [00:19] reporting a charge of 24 watts, or roughly 17 % of its [00:22] battery capacity. Controllers say it's enough to resume [00:25] science operations, including drilling into the surface to [00:28] analyze the comet's composition in more detail. Philae [00:30] shut down in November of 2014 when complications [00:33] during landing put it in the shadow of a cliff instead of [00:36] direct sunlight. This cut down on the vital solar [00:39] exposure Philae needs to charge its backup power [00:41] cells. Instead of the six- plus hours of daily sunlight its [00:44] designers had initially planned for, Philae gets about [00:47] 90 minutes. So, researchers re- prioritized their [00:50] science plans. Once Philae's initial 60 hour battery [00:52] charge ran out, it entered hibernation. and the mission [00:52] became a waiting game. This [00:57] first contact in months means scientists could get the [00:59] chance to try some of their experiments again, but the [01:02] connection is still spotty. After that 85 second [01:05] message, ground stations lost contact again. Still, it's [01:08] looking good for the little lander a comet 67 PCG [01:11] orbits closer to the sun, controllers hope fele will get [01:14] more sunlight for a longer period of time to keep itself [01:17] going. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/"},"headline":"The Philae Comet Could Be Home to Microbial Alien Life, Scientists Say","datePublished":"2015-07-06T08:59:04.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T05:21:20.000Z","description":"Certain features of the comet suggest microbes could be present under its surface","url":"https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/","keywords":["Space","Comet"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdfdf632259beb24e/698859a50a4a2271939c5044/philae-comet-rosetta.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Helen Regan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/helen-regan/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdfdf632259beb24e/698859a50a4a2271939c5044/philae-comet-rosetta.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"This handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which landed on the comet's surface on Nov. 13, 2014.","caption":"This handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which landed on the comet's surface on Nov. 13, 2014.","creditText":"2014 European Space Agency (ESA)/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/space/","name":"Space"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3946292/comet-philae-life-microbial-67p-astronomers-alien/","name":"The Philae Comet Could Be Home to Microbial Alien Life, Scientists Say"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Know Right Now: Philae Comet May Have Alien Life","description":"The comet that is home to the probe, Philae, may also be home to microbial life. 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