Rise and shine: Rosetta's Philae probe could be awake within weeks

Increased sunlight may allow lander to re-boot and send further samples; data received so far has already challenged leading theory on planet formation

The Rosetta mission's hibernating lander could awake within weeks, according to new predictions that it will soon be receiving enough sunlight to recharge its batteries.

The Philae probe shut down just three days after making a spectacular, but bumpy, landing on the duck-shaped comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and has been in a dormant state ever since. Despite making it to within half a mile of its target on the comet's "head", after a 250 million mile journey through space, the lander came to rest in the shadow of a cliff meaning that its solar-powered batteries have been unable to recharge since November.