Rosetta's lander Philae (front view) on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the European Space Agency. (AFP File Photo)
Ground controllers said today they would stop sending commands to comet probe Philae, announcing it was "time to say goodbye" to the tiny lab resting after a captivating science mission.
"There is indeed little hope to still get a signal from the lander," said Philae project manager Stephan Ulamec of the German Aerospace Center DLR, which issued a statement entitled: "A slow farewell -- Time to say goodbye to Philae".