Files to 'print your own' Rosetta comet

Europe's space agency (Esa) has finally released a proper model for the shape of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the BBC reported.

The organisation's Rosetta mission will try to put a small robot on the surface of this "ice mountain" on 12 November.

The model provides some further details on the comet's size, and also allows enthusiasts to print their own 3D version of the duck-shaped object.

Rosetta has been flying around 67P since August, and could get as close as 10km, if it is deemed safe to do so.

Esa Flight Director Andrea Accomazzo told the International Astronautical Congress in Toronto on Friday that a final decision on this matter would be made next week.

The comet and the Rosetta probe are currently speeding through space some 464 million km from Earth.

The daring landing manoeuvre is planned for the afternoon (European time) of Wednesday 12 November.

Rosetta will attempt to deploy its piggybacked Philae lander to the surface in a procedure that is likely to last roughly seven hours.

The 100kg robot will be aimed at the "head" of the "duck."

If it gets down successfully - and that is a big "if" because of the difficulties involved - it would be a historic first for space exploration.

The shape model just released provides some more definitive physical parameters for 67P.

Previously, mission scientists have used the vague phrase of "about 4km wide" to describe the object's size.

Now, we have measurements to two significant figures.