The European Space Agency has unveiled that Philae had brief conversation with ground control through Rosetta after maintaining a 15-day silence. The agency has termed it to be very encouraging news for the lander’s team.

During the communication, the lander control team was able to receive measurement data from the COmet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission (CONSERT) instrument.

Communication with Philae is not an easy task. Scientists said Philae uses Rosetta orbiter as a radio relay to talk on earth. The problem is the orbiter’s location around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko does not provide regular communication opportunities with Philae.

The scientists affirmed that it is not an easy to track a comet 186 million miles from earth. German Aerospace Center DLR engineer Koen Geurts said that they are expecting certain tasks to be accomplished by the lander for which it should change its batteries.

“This sign of life from Philae proves to us that at least one the lander's communication units remains operational and receives out commands. We never gave up on Philae and remained optimistic”, affirmed Geurts.

Currently, the lander’s team has been going through the latest data from Philae. Main aim is to find a solution to communication problem and come up with a way so that regular contact can be maintained. For now, there is no answer with the team as to why the lander has communication now and not in past few days.