Rosetta spacecraft lands on comet 67P and switches off for good

It's over. After orbiting the duck-shaped comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko for 786 days, the Rosetta spacecraft has landed on its surface and turned off its instruments for good. The landing was confirmed at around 7:20AM ET as signals from the probe's instruments ended.

"I can announce full descent and I declare, hereby, that the mission has ended for Rosetta," said ESA mission manager Patrick Martin. "The Rosetta mission was inspiring to many. Historic and pioneering, and it revolutionized we understand comets and the Solar System. Farewell Rosetta, you've done the job that was space science at its best."