--- description: It had gotten through 80% of its scheduled observations title: Comet Probe Philae Runs Out Of Power image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a08079d163ae7b5/698768f0524fc08623deabe4/par8027993.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Space](/tag/space/) ## Space Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Comet Probe Philae Runs Out Of Power by [TIME Video](/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 15, 2014 5:20 PM CUT  A handout photo released on Nov. 13, 2014 by the European Space Agency, and captured on November 12 by the CIVA-P imaging system, shows a 360∫ view of the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko around the point of final touchdown, during Philae's descent. A handout photo released on Nov. 13, 2014 by the European Space Agency, and captured on November 12 by the CIVA-P imaging system, shows a 360∫ view of the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko around the point of final touchdown, during Philae's descent.ESA/AFP/Getty Images by [TIME Video](/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 15, 2014 5:20 PM CUT The first human probe to land on a comet went dark Friday night while sending data back to the European Space Agency. In an online statement, the head of operations for the probe said, “this machine performed magnificently under tough conditions, and we can be fully proud of the incredible scientific success Philae has delivered.” The probe lost power after bouncing into a shady area of the comet during its landing. Before losing power, the Philae accomplished about 80% of its scheduled observations. Philae could soon regain power if its solar panels are able to pick up enough sunlight. ### See the Rosetta Spacecraft's Best Photos of Comet 67P  This image shows comet 67P/CG and was acquired by the ROLIS instrument on the Philae lander during descent on Nov. 12, 2014, 14:38:41 UT from a distance of approximately 3 km from the surface. ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR/H  A 'selfie' composite image from a camera on the Rosetta mission’s Philae comet lander shows Comet 67P. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Oct. 28, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P in a photo released on Aug. 6, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Sept. 26, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Oct. 18, 2014 ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Nov. 4, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Aug. 3, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3587221/comet-probe-philae-loses-power/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3587221/comet-probe-philae-loses-power/"},"headline":"Comet Probe Philae Runs Out Of Power","datePublished":"2014-11-15T17:20:57.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:07:03.205Z","description":"It had gotten through 80% of its scheduled observations","url":"https://time.com/3587221/comet-probe-philae-loses-power/","keywords":["Space","esa","Comet"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a08079d163ae7b5/698768f0524fc08623deabe4/par8027993.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Video","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/time-video/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a08079d163ae7b5/698768f0524fc08623deabe4/par8027993.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"SPACE-EUROPE-ASTRONOMY-COMET-SIGNAL","caption":"SPACE-EUROPE-ASTRONOMY-COMET-SIGNAL","creditText":"ESA/AFP/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":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/space/","name":"Space"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3587221/comet-probe-philae-loses-power/","name":"Comet Probe Philae Runs Out Of Power"}}]}] ```