European Space Agency

The Joint European Torus, a European fusion project in the U.K., gets most of its funding from the EU. Brexit may change that, and the even larger ITER fusion project. EUROfusion hide caption

This new image from the largest planet in the Solar System, Jupiter, was made during the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program. NASA, ESA, A. Simon (GSFC), M. W hide caption

An artist impression shows Philae on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. ESA/ATG medialab/AP hide caption

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy checks her Sokol pressure suit aboard the International Space Station. Cristoforetti, who set an endurance record, is among three astronauts who returned on Thursday. ESA/LANDOV hide caption

The moon Ganymede (right) orbits the giant planet Jupiter in this artist's rendering. Scientists say a saline ocean lurks under the moon's icy crust. NASA/ESA hide caption

An image of Comet 67P/C-G taken on Feb. 6 from a distance of about 77 miles to the comet center. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM hide caption

Close-ups of a curious surface texture on Comet 67P nicknamed "goosebumps," all of them at a scale of around 3 meters and spanning areas more than 100 meters. ESA/Rosetta/MPS hide caption

An image sent by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Scientists have concluded that it shows the Beagle 2 Mars lander, which went missing in 2003. NASA hide caption

This combination photo produced with different images shows Philae after landing on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. AP hide caption

The Rosetta spacecraft, which orbits the comet, captured this series of images of the Philae lander bounding off the surface. The precise spot the lander came to a stop remains unknown. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA hide caption

The ESA released this composite panoramic image showing Philae's surroundings on Comet 67P. To illustrate the lander's orientation, the agency superimposed a sketch of the craft. ESA Rosetta/Philae/CIVA hide caption

Scientist Matt Taylor, left, said "I made a big mistake" by wearing a shirt featuring scantily clad women. Taylor spoke at Friday's update by the European Space Agency on the Philae lander. ESA hide caption

Engineers at the European Space Agency fear that they won't be able to communicate with the Philae lander after Friday. Here, lander manager Stefan Ulamec (left, in foreground) watches as data confirming the comet landing arrived Wednesday. European Space Agency hide caption

The Philae lander beamed back images showing one of its three feet on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko . This photo is compiled from two images; a wider version will be released later Thursday. ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA hide caption