Pilot Rosetta at Home to Land on a Comet and Study It With NASA’s Comet Quest Game

The European Space Agency made history yesterday when its Philae lander became the first spacecraft ever to make a soft landing on the surface of a comet.

But you can get in on the action with NASA’s Comet Quest, which tasks you with piloting Rosetta, sending the Philae lander down to the surface of a comet, and studying the comet while avoiding its dangerous debris. That mostly amounts to a lot of clicking white boxes and avoiding red ones, but controlling a spacecraft is hard, and we recommend that you check out the in-game tutorial before you begin so nothing gets in the way of all your important simulated science research.

You can also grab the game for free on your iOS or Android device so you’re not tied to your computer as you live vicariously through NASA as they live vicariously through ESA.

Just remember, terrible shirts aren’t included. You’ll have to supply your own.

(via io9, images via screenshot)

Previously in Rosetta

• The Rosetta team is still trying to figure out why Philae’s anchor harpoons didn’t fire
• ESA’s Rosetta video briefings are adorable
• Feel like you’re there with a nifty 3D image of Rosetta’s comet

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Dan Van Winkle

Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct Geekosystem (RIP), and then at The Mary Sue starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at Smash Bros.

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