CRI听力:Scientists Wait to Find out the Status of Philae Probe

Scientists say they have to wait until later tonight to find out the status of the Philae  probe that made a historic landing on a comet.

The 100 kilogram lander touched down on the comet's surface after a seven-hour descent from its orbiting mothership Rosetta.

But during the free-fall to the comet's surface, harpoons designed to anchor the probe failed to deploy properly.

Data shows the probe landed at least three times after the harpoons failed on the first attempt.

The European Space Agency says the Philae probe managed to release a close-up image of the comet despite the anchor problem.

Paolo Ferri, head of the European Space Agency, says the work has to go on.

"You know, signs came throughout the descent, so that phase is already over. So we have signs, data coming, we have pictures, we have measurements from all the instruments, all the instruments that were active during the descent. Signs continue coming, of course the scientific experiments will start a bit later."

Scientists hope samples from the surface of the comet will help show how planets and life are created as the rock and ice that make up comets preserved organic molecules.

The landing caps a journey that began a decade ago.