when we are drowning in a sea of humdrum ****, I would like to register my admiration for the scientists who ran the 30 year project to gather information on comets by sending a craft to one. The project ended today, by crashing Rosetta into the comet, though it will take decades to analyse all the data. A monument to human curiosity and ingenuity. Something that the much overused word 'awesome' can be appropriately applied to. I doff my hat to all involved.
16 km from crash landing please log in to view this image 8.9km please log in to view this image Image copyright Esa/Rosetta/MPS 5.8km please log in to view this image Image copyright Esa 5.7km please log in to view this image Image copyright Esa 1.2km please log in to view this image Image copyright Esa 23 metres please log in to view this image Image copyright ESA/ROSETTA/MPS for OSIRIS Team Image caption This blurry image is the last picture sent back by Rosetta before impact
Absolutely amazing SB. In my Physics days at University I had the pleasure of being lectured by an Astrophysicist who was a lead on the spacecraft which flew by Halley's comet and took the well known photos of the comet's nucleus. Soon after the fly-by she came in to the lecture hall, put up an acetate sheet on the overhead projector (remember those?), and there was an image of Halley's nucleus. We were one of the first global audiences to see the image.......unlike today, in the (better) age of instantaneous media where these fantastic mages are there for all to see. I can appreciate others' points on whether space exploration is a waste of money, but let's not forget that things like GPS are a result of our quest for knowledge of what's out there. You Rs!
Astro-physics is a fantastic subject, it's totally mind-blowing when you consider the vastness of our universe, and it's age. There are so many as-yet undiscovered secrets out there, and humankinds curiousness to search these out have led to many innovations that are everyday things to us now. Sending a probe out 1/2 a billion miles, and getting solid reliable data back is an incredible achievment by our species, and shouldn't (IMO) be belittled by anyone - yes, it cost lots, but I'd rather we spent it on that research than the development of a nuclear arsenal that we'll almost definately never use. Long may our journeys into space continue, one day we'll have to vacate this planet and without exploration, our descendants will have nowhere to go - yes, it's a long way off but it is inevitable.
Incredible to think that the small craft has traveled something like 8 billion km and has kept going for what 12 years.........some washing machines don't last as long......
Outstanding and I certainly remember acetates. They were an innovation at one time...... I'm easily impressed by science. I was requested to sit at the back of the class, be quiet and not to even look at the Bunsen burners in physics at age 12, gave it and chemistry up at 13. Lasted to 16 with biology. But I am especially impressed by the dedication to see through something like this over decades. Of course this is worth spending money on. It cost £1bn to do this. Less than Premier League clubs spent in the last transfer window. It's fantastic value for money, even if the result is just knowledge for its own sake. Which it won't be, something practical in the short term always comes out of these endeavours.
