European scientists make space history by landing probe on a comet after 10-year mission

[Scott McD]

Anyone have an interest in this ??

Rosetta's probe, Philae, has become the first craft in history to land on a comet.
After a daring seven-hour descent, and despite problems with its thrusters, the probe touched down on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
However, controllers admit the probe is still facing major problems as it emerged the harpoons supposed to tether it to the surface had not fired, leaving it attached only by screws on its legs.

In an emotional speech, Esa director general Jean-Jacques Dordain said: 'It's a big step for human civilisation.'
Scientists hope data from the probe will help reveal how the solar system was first created 4.5 billion years ago.
The confirmation of the landing was relayed via Rosetta to Earth and picked up simultaneously by a ground station in Malargüe, Argentina and Madrid, Spain, before being confirmed in Darmstadt.

[Zuzana Designs]

Amazing!

[sarettah]

Lots of folks around here don't believe that we ever landed on the moon, how are they going to believe that they managed to land on a comet after 10 years and billions of miles.

Very cool though.

Count down to wehateporn.

10, 9, 8, 7 .......

.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Count down to wehateporn.

10, 9, 8, 7 .......

6.......5.......4...

[2MuchMark]

Congrats to the ESA and Rosetta team ! http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta I can't imagine how awesome it must be to be one of the Rosetta scientists right now. Freakin' fantastic.

[EonBlue]

That is pretty freaking incredible. The images are amazing.

Right now all of the nutters are scrambling down to their momma's basements and narrating with serious sounding monotone voices over top of videos of a bunch of pictures highlighted with red circles and arrows in attempt to prove that this is not possible.




.

[clickity click]

There is so much about this that is amazing.

For me the it's that 10 years ago they launched this thing and knew exactly where it would go despite traveling 4 billion miles and sling shotting around the Earth and Mars.
I presume they also knew 10 years ago the exact date and time these two objects would meet.
It's also amazing that after this massive journey the technology used is now outdated.

The infographic says the probe was traveling at 84,000mph, is the comet traveling at the same speed?
The mind boggles how this works.

[SilentKnight]

Surface temperature -70c

So...it's cozy like northern Canada in mid-winter.

[Jel]

sure better than dealing with say homelessness or helping those with mental issues in 2014 for example. go comet photos! should really be a 'big help for human civilisation'

[Jim_Gunn]

Originally Posted by Jel

sure better than dealing with say homelessness or helping those with mental issues in 2014 for example. go comet photos! should really be a 'big help for human civilisation'

This is just a silly comment. There are a lot of agencies and organizations dealing with homelessness and mental health issues. These ongoing problems don't mean that technology or space exploration should stop.

[420]

Originally Posted by wehateporn
The comet landing is a fake. Notice the shadows of the Arizona desert.

[fitzmulti]

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Ima..._descent_image

and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/europe...7638315605535/

[Jel]

Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

This is just a silly comment. There are a lot of agencies and organizations dealing with homelessness and mental health issues. These ongoing problems don't mean that technology or space exploration should stop.

yeah, because the funding is the same

"According to the Office of Management and Budget and the Air Force Almanac, when measured in real terms (adjusted for inflation), the figure is $790.0 billion, or an average of $15.818 billion per year over its fifty-year history."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA

Sorry, shit like this gets to me, even if it seems 'silly' to you that I find it sad there is homelessness and limited/poor mental healthcare for millions of people in 2014

The initial comment was flippant, but my feelings on it aren't Huge waste of money on what is (nowadays) nothing more than a gigantic ego trip.

[John-ACWM]

Damn impressive, congrats to the people working on this for over a decade!

[Mutt]

Originally Posted by Jel

"According to the Office of Management and Budget and the Air Force Almanac, when measured in real terms (adjusted for inflation), the figure is $790.0 billion, or an average of $15.818 billion per year over its fifty-year history."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA


The initial comment was flippant, but my feelings on it aren't Huge waste of money on what is (nowadays) nothing more than a gigantic ego trip.

If not for technological 'ego trips' you wouldn't be on this thing called the Internet right now. The Internet has changed the entire world and how we live in it, it began with funding from the US government, money which could have been spent on the homeless and mentally ill. Investment in scientific and technological research has always had high return yields for mankind. A lot of technology developed by NASA has in fact been transferred to medical science and helped millions of people. I'd have to search but I think MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, has its roots in the space program. And no technology is contributing more to the study of mental illness and the brain than MRI.

NASA has been the victim of budgets cutbacks, receiving less than half of the funding it received in the 1970's as a percentage of the federal budget. It's sad that an American has to hitch a ride now with the Russians or Chinese to travel into space.

I understand your point though, the US military budget is ridiculous, billions given to defense contractors could be transferred to all sorts of other programs including those that help the homeless and mentally ill.

[Abracadabra_nl]

Truly impressive...

[Jel]

Originally Posted by Mutt

If not for technological 'ego trips' you wouldn't be on this thing called the Internet right now. The Internet has changed the entire world and how we live in it, it began with funding from the US government, money which could have been spent on the homeless and mentally ill. Investment in scientific and technological research has always had high return yields for mankind. A lot of technology developed by NASA has in fact been transferred to medical science and helped millions of people. I'd have to search but I think MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, has its roots in the space program. And no technology is contributing more to the study of mental illness and the brain than MRI.

NASA has been the victim of budgets cutbacks, receiving less than half of the funding it received in the 1970's as a percentage of the federal budget. It's sad that an American has to hitch a ride now with the Russians or Chinese to travel into space.

I understand your point though, the US military budget is ridiculous, billions given to defense contractors could be transferred to all sorts of other programs including those that help the homeless and mentally ill.

actually those are great points about the technology being used elsewhere. While I was typing out that reply, I was thinking how x always has a side benefit of y (at a minimum), and so was it worth even responding. I'm actually glad I did though now, after your reply

Not sure I'm gonna shed any tears about cutbacks and you having to rely on russia/china, but yeah, very true on the other points

[Scott McD]

After watching a few vids on this, i have concluded that i still can't get my head around how this was even possible.

Kudos to the dudes who made it happen then...

[Tom-LifeSelector]

Congratulation guys, really impressive

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by Mutt

If not for technological 'ego trips' you wouldn't be on this thing called the Internet right now. The Internet has changed the entire world and how we live in it, it began with funding from the US government, money which could have been spent on the homeless and mentally ill. Investment in scientific and technological research has always had high return yields for mankind. A lot of technology developed by NASA has in fact been transferred to medical science and helped millions of people. I'd have to search but I think MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, has its roots in the space program. And no technology is contributing more to the study of mental illness and the brain than MRI.

NASA has been the victim of budgets cutbacks, receiving less than half of the funding it received in the 1970's as a percentage of the federal budget. It's sad that an American has to hitch a ride now with the Russians or Chinese to travel into space.

I understand your point though, the US military budget is ridiculous, billions given to defense contractors could be transferred to all sorts of other programs including those that help the homeless and mentally ill.

The truth is the science pushed technology funded by the government - win win for everyone. We went to the moon and... In return we got LED lights, artificial limbs, invisbile braces, scratch resistant lenses, better tired, temper foam, portable cordless vaccums, freeze drying, solar cells.... Lots of neat shit.

Hit me up on ICQ Mutt.

[Drake]

I hope I live to see the day when indisputable evidence of life (living or deceased) is found on other planets. A fossil would suffice.

What's being achieved in space exploration these days is nothing short of miraculous.

[Scott McD]

Dammit !!


Philae Falls Silent After Batteries Depleted

The Philae lander has fallen into "idle mode" after its batteries were depleted and not enough sunlight was available for recharging, scientists say.

The European Space Agency says all systems on board the craft have shut down and Philae has entered a "possibly long silence".

[just a punk]

That's not good, but still not a catastrophe. Hope it wake up when the comet will be moving in the direction of the Sun.

[Relentless]

Jel,

Internet, WiFi, GPS, Velcro, Teflon, MRI, Driverless cars and dozens of other technologies have come from two organizations: NASA and DARPA. Even more importantly, they come without the patents private enterprise would have used to strangle others from expanding on them.

If you want to help the homeless and the mentally ill, vote to skyrocket the budget for NASA. Unfortunately DARPA is part of the defense budget so there is no way to earmark money to go to it without raising the overall defense budget and risking the money being diverted to other military projects.

This particular mission was by the ESA, funded by Europe. The Large Hadron Collider was also European. Want to lose our standard of living fastest? Keep allowing other nations to lead the way with new discoveries....

Always bet on science.

[clickity click]

Originally Posted by Scott McD

Dammit !!


Philae Falls Silent After Batteries Depleted

What in the fucking fuck!!

How can it travel over 4 billion miles for 10 years and one day after it lands the battery goes dead.
Did it land on the dark side of the comet or something.

Stupid.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by clickity click

What in the fucking fuck!!

How can it travel over 4 billion miles for 10 years and one day after it lands the battery goes dead.
Did it land on the dark side of the comet or something.

Stupid.

Read the article. It landed on it's side. So the Sun cannot charge some of the panels on it. It should wake up again though. All is not lost...

[clickity click]

Originally Posted by Scott McD

Read the article. It landed on it's side. So the Sun cannot charge some of the panels on it. It should wake up again though. All is not lost...

If it's on it's side can it stand up again?

[Relentless]

Originally Posted by clickity click

If it's on it's side can it stand up again?

I doubt it, but I'd expect the next lander to be able to and to have solar cells on all sides. Test, tweak, retest, relaunch, rinse and repeat. That's what got us from caveman times to comet landings so far.