According to the scientists that have achieved this incredible feat, the lander named "Philae" it bounced upon reaching the comet. And the bounce lasted about 2 hours. That means the scientists had the velocity of Philae exactly right and while it wasn't touching the comet it was still traveling EXACTLY at the same speed of the comet.
Philae now travels at the same rate of speed as comet 67P.
I have great optimism Philae will be transmitting information for a long time as it's batteries receive sunlight. What is exciting is to realize Philae will be with comet 67P when it comes close to Earth.
I haven't heard any speculation yet as to whether Philae's interaction with comet P67 caused in change in course. And what is to come of the mother ship. Will it continue to travel alongside Philae relaying information as well?
...The signal broke a seven-hour wait of agonising intensity and sparked scenes of jubilation at the European Space Agency’s mission control in Darmstadt. The team in charge of the Rosetta mission achieved what at times seemed an impossible task by landing a robotic spacecraft on a comet for the first time in history.
The moment the tension broke came shortly after 1600 GMT when the Philae called home. “We are there. We are sitting on the surface. Philae is talking to us,” said a jubilant Stephan Ulamec, Philae lander manager at the DLR German space centre. “We are on the comet.”
Andrea Accomazzo, the Rosetta flight operations director, added: “We cannot be happier than we are now.”...
