Ground controllers said Friday they would stop sending commands to comet probe Philae, announcing it was "time to say goodbye" to the tiny lab resting after a captivating science mission.

"There is indeed little hope to still get a signal from the lander," said Philae project manager Stephan Ulamec of the German Aerospace Center DLR, which issued a statement entitled: "A slow farewell -- Time to say goodbye to Philae".