....on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. A wonderful first for the European Space Agency. It's reported that RooiAAS is happy to have a drink with First Admission, Chabal, DA and my good self on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko whenever it's convenient for us. He has been on Cloud 9 er 67 for some time.
I bet there are guys at NASA gnashing their teeth....no pun intended.
What a proud performance by ESA . A little more than a year ago we thought NASA was right on the ball when they landed a rover on Mars on the foothills of a mountain within a landing ellipse of about 4 x 8 km.
Today ESA landed a probe on a comet about 500 million kilometres from earth and will a n a l y s e not only the surface and interior, but also the gasses and particles ejected by the comet as it passes the sun. A formidable achievement.
Yes Blikkies this is really science fiction staff. I watched Deep Impact again recently where a module is landed on a comet. Really a fine adult movie for the most part, if a touch sentimental. Completing a landing ten years later, by remote control is a more stunning accomplishment. What man could have been if we weren't distracted by our baser emotions! Here are some of the major mile stones and the time line.
"So does this mean that if we ever have a comet en-route to earth looking likely to cause another mass extinction we can plug a giant nuclear bomb into it and blow it to smithereens ? Awesome ! "
Yes they can blast it with a nuke, but they will never do this because the fragments may do more harm.
Provided there is enough time (1 year?), it will be a smarter idea to launch a bulky rocket and put it into orbit around the comet. This will drain a very small amount of energy from the comet and by having a asymmetrical orbit one can change its trajectory. You need only a 1 degree change in direction and the intact comet will pass harmlessly.
What a major achievement
I have been watching this very closely since they first mentioned their concerns that the rockets may malfunction and not ignite to counter the effect of the harpoons being fired to secure themselves to the comet.
History has been made again
Well if we don't find an Alien with suckers, maybe a toilet plunger will work
According to what I've heard the module hasn't been able to anchor itself. Would that mean it could slip off? Clean Cut
I have been watching this very closely since they first mentioned their concerns that the rockets may malfunction and not ignite to counter the effect of the harpoons being fired to secure themselves to the comet. Devils Advocate
Yes, CC it can drift away (slip off) but I recall them saying that there is a spinning wheel on board, but that was turned off during the landing. I think they should be able to use this spinning wheel (which is nothing more than a gyroscope) to get them back onto the surface of the comet and hopefully fire those harpoons again to anchor it onto the surface. Lets hold thumbs.
Gyroscopes are wonderful devices which produce a force in a certain direction and this is found in nature (e.g. racing bikes do not tip over during tight corners because the gyroscope effect from the wheels prevent the bike from falling onto the ground) and a multitude of industrial applications like in auto pilots or even at the ISS (Int. Space Station) to change its orientation to avoid space debris or get into the proper configuration to receive other space vehicles.
Some food for thought, since it has been brought up
Here are some inventions which were later produced after being written about or displayed in either book form or movies
Pretty in Pink Computer ? Instant Messaging
Star Trek Replicator ? 3D Printers
Star Trek PADD ? iPad
Star Trek Virtual Display Device ? Google Glass
Star Trek Medical Tricorder ? Scanadu Scout
Star Trek Communicator ? Flip Phones
Ender’s Game Antigravity Battle Room ? Indoor Skydiving
Star Wars Speeder Bike ? Hoverbike
Minority Report Heads-Up Displays ? Air Touch Technology
Minority Report Targeted Advertising ? Face-Scanning Marketing Technology
Looking Backward Credit Cards ? ATM and Credit Cards
Fahrenheit 451 Seashell Radio ? In-Ear Headphones
From the Earth to the Moon Splashdown Capsules ? Lunar Module
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea Electric Submarine ? Diesel-Electric Submarines
In The Year 2889 Atmospheric Advertising ? Skywriting
The War of the Worlds Heat-Ray ? Active Denial System
Iron Man Armor ? Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS)
The Jetsons Robot Maid ? Mahru-Z
The Jetsons Robot Vacuum ? Roomba
The Jetsons Food Machine ? Online Ordering Hubs
The Jetsons Sleek TVs ? Flatscreen TVs
The Jetsons Tanning Lamp ? Tanning Beds
The Jetsons Dog Treadmill ? DogTread
2001: A Space Odyssey Phone Booth ? Video Calls
2001: A Space Odyssey Mission Robot ? NASA Canadarm
Demolition Man Sexytimes ? Oculus Rift Porn
Back to the Future Power Laces ? Self-Tying Laces
Back to the Future Hoverboard ? HUVr Board
Visit to the World’s Fair of 2014” Cordless Appliances ? Wireless Things
Visit to the World’s Fair 2014” Kitchen Gadgets ? Instant Coffee Makers
Visit to the World’s Fair 2014” Mars Exploration ? Curiosity Rover
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Pneumatic Tube ? Vacuum Elevators
Others are:
Atomic Bomb
Escalators
Automatic Doors
Radar
E-Books
Plastic eating bacteria
Spray on clothes
Driverless Cars
Tanks
