Beating the
odds and
projections, the
plucky little
probe chirped its presence from the surface of
Eros today, confirming that it had landed successfully. NASA believes that the probe is lying on its side in the
south Polar region of the asteroid; the systems appear to be fine. The camera won't be of much use; even if it's aligned correctly, its minimum
focal length is on the order of 600 meters.
In a wave of optimism, NASA scientists are apparently discussing whether or not to try to relaunch the probe from the surface. This would make Eros only the second heavenly body that humanity has managed a touch-and-go on (the Moon being the first, natch). It's the fifth body touched by a human craft, after the Moon, Mars, Venus and Jupiter.
Go NASA!