European Space Agency (ESA) scientists say the Philea probe, which they landed on a comet more than 500 million kilometres from Earth, has performed amazingly well in tough conditions.
An image from the mission shows the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko - and one of Philae's three feet. Photo: AFP / ESA
The solar-powered lander's batteries have run out of power but it was able to send back a crucial batch of scientific data just in time, the BBC reported.
Despite dwindling battery reserves, Philae completed about 80 percent of its core science programme.
Over the past few days, it has taken photographs, sampled the gases and taken measurements of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which it set down on on Wednesday.
Philae also completed a crucial experiment in which the proble drilled under the icy surface to take a sample, to analyse in its on-board laboratory.
Engineers were also able to rotate the probe so that more of its solar panels faced the sun.
The ESA mission, launched in 2004, aims to learn about the origins of the solar system.
This image marks the first touchdown point of the lander - before it bounced twice, settling in the shadow of a large cliff. Photo: AFP / ESA
The comet shown from a camera on Philae about 3 kilometres from the surface. Photo: PHOTO / ESA / Rosetta / Philae / ROLIS / DLR