Artist’s conception of Philae’s touchdown. Image courtesy the European Space Agency
The little European probe that landed, bounced, and settled in a shady section of a comet last November has awoken. Philae communicated with mothership Rosetta after getting light onto its solar panels and juice into its cold batteries. ESA scientists are looking at the data and are hopeful that more will follow. Great news for this audacious, decade-long mission. Long may it wave, wide may it flap.