DO YOU REMEMBER? – AT 11:24 A.M. ET:  From CNN:

London (CNN) -- Touchdown! The Philae probe has landed on the surface of a comet, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) announced Wednesday.

It is the first time a soft landing has been achieved on a comet.

Shortly after news came, the probe tweeted: "Touchdown! My new address: 67P!"

Led by ESA with a consortium of partners including NASA, scientists on the Rosetta mission hope to learn more about the composition of comets and how they interact with the solar wind -- high energy particles blasted into space by the Sun.

Lander snaps goodbye picture of Rosetta

The Philae lander separated from the mother ship Rosetta around 3:30 a.m. ET to begin its 7-hour descent.

Philae, which has spent 10 years fixed to the side of Rosetta during the journey across the solar system, could not be steered. Once it was released, it was on its own.

COMMENT:  Do you remember when America used to lead these missions?  When we made the headlines?  But Obama came to power and declared that the mission of NASA was "Muslim outreach."  We congratulate the Europeans.  But I want to see the American flag up there once again.  It's a spiritual thing, and those things count.  Sorry, but I'm proud to wave the flag.

November 12, 2014