The Philae landers comet mission may not have gone exactly according to plan, however that does not mean that the data retrieved before it went to sleep isn’t enlightening. The composition of comet 67p could reveal a great deal about the history of the solar system and the emergence of life on Earth.

The discovery of organics on 67p have been confirmed by Dr. Fred Groesmann, principal investigator for the Cosac instrument to the BBC. It is not known yet which organic molecules have been found or how complex those molecules are.

According to models of the early solar system, molecules were pulled together and formed larger and larger masses. Those masses, in the form of comets and asteroids continued to be pulled together in sometimes violent collisions over millions of years until they finally formed planets. Those planets continued to pull in smaller bits of debris, and still do although the rate has slowed considerably.

Most existing comets are the same age as everything else in the solar system, they simply never joined with larger planetary bodies. The composition of comets, like the one currently being studied by the Rosetta mission, could shed light on the chemical composition of the planets, including Earth, when they formed. With that information, scientists could begin to paint a picture of how the Earth developed. With information about the organic molecules present on the comets, researchers may gain a clearer understanding of how life itself emerged.

One of the objectives of Philae, and the Cosac instrument, was to drill a sample of the comet’s “soil” and analyze it in the oven. On the latest attempt, Philae did attempt to drill a sample, but that sample was never delivered to the analysis instrument.

“We didn’t necessarily see many organics in the signal. That could be because we didn’t manage to pick up a sample. But what we know is that the drill went down to its full extent and came back up again.” said Proffessor Mark McCaughrean, senior science adviser to Esa, to BBC News.

Philae lander’s solar panels are currently blocked by a ridge. Researchers are hopeful, however that as the comet gets closer to the sun more light will reach the panels and a recharge will be possible. This would allow for a more detailed analysis of the comet and the stuff that it is made of.