First pictures released from comet's surface

The European Space Agency has released the first picture taken by its Philae probe on the surface of a comet.

Philae became the first spacecraft to land on a comet when it touched down on the comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, on Wednesday. The photo shows a rocky surface with one of the lander’s three feet.

Now that I’m safely on the ground, here is what my new home #67P looks like from where I am. #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/gFmt8Ldvpa

— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 13, 2014

Harpoons meant to anchor the lander to the surface failed to work properly, causing Philae to bounce twice.

But ESA says the lander is stable. Gerhard Schwehm, a scientist on the Rosetta mission, said it may still be possible to fire the harpoons but in any case the lander is “very healthy”.