Going… going… gone! A sequence of screenshots showing the signal from Rosetta seen at ESA’s ESOC mission control centre via NASA’s 70m tracking station at Madrid during comet landing on 30 September 2016. The peak of the spectrum analyser is strong at 13:19 CEST, and a few moments later, it’s gone.

Rosetta's radio signal starts to fade... Credit: ESA

Rosetta’s radio signal starts to fade… Credit: ESA

Rosetta's radio signal starts to fade... Credit: ESA

Rosetta’s radio signal starts to fade… Credit: ESA

Rosetta's radio signal is almost gone Credit: ESA

Rosetta’s radio signal is almost gone Credit: ESA

Rosetta's radio signal is gone Credit: ESA

Rosetta’s radio signal is gone Credit: ESA