Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: armc40 on August 06, 2012, 10:29:17 am
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Just after 06.30 BST today, the years of intense labour, scientific genius, engineering mastery and just plain old "ant and rubber tree" fortitude, culminated in the successful landing of a remote multi purpose research vehicle (MSL) on the surface of
what may well become the planet of choice for the continued survival of the human race WHEN Earth has finally given up all it's dwindling assets.
It begs the question...should migration to the Red Planet become not only a reality but a necessity, who would be selected as the first "worthy" candidates for the ultimate salvation ?
Those without a LORD, SIR or DAME, or a collection of assorted initials before their name will need NOT apply. Neither will those who don't feel the need to wear dark glasses at midday and mumble in an incoherent Gaelic/English/Narcotically induced form of subhuman communication...and maybe those who can't steer a rowing boat across a lake either...or those whose sole biking exploits run to the daily trip to work and back...perish the thought !
There may well be an urgent requirement for 'spearchuckers' especially if Mars is found to be inhabited by a tribe of mutant carnivorous pork chops, maybe even a few 'dinnerplate' heavers, just to please the Greek contingent.
All the above talents (and a myriad others) should prove indisputedly invaluable on an alien planet, I'm sure !
The present day Honours System is fast becoming a global joke as many of you will agree, and how long before we hear of Lord Tinky Winky of La LaLaville (oh oh) ? NOT as silly as it sounds judging by the elevation of comparative nobodies to the upper echelons of society in recent years !
TooRoo
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Well, the first paragraph was ok but.....
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At last we seem to have landed one , I'm only accepting my seat if there is a Model Shop there..
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and Water. %)
ken
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The animation they showed looked pretty neat for the landing, shame there is not an actual shot of it releasing.
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Well, the first pagagraph was ok but.....
You mean it won't be printed in the next edition of Model Boat magazine ?
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A wonderful technical feat with the payload being winched down from a platform supported by rockets.
Colin
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I've been looking forward to this day for a long time, especially since the launch in which i sat and watched.
Don't think they'll find any life however i'm sure there will be a lot to discover over the next 15 years - assuming they extend the 2 year mission.
Next big mission is new horizons that will pass Pluto on July 15th, 2015.
Dan
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Hi, it had a good mention on Radio 4 this morning.
regards Roy
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Hi, it had a good mention on Radio 4 this morning.
regards Roy
Thanks for that ROY, but I wasn't exactly referring to the state owned and run media
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Got a mention low down the list on "Breakfast O'limpbits"
Regards Ian.
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I was watching NASA TV as it came down. Despite being one of the most unorthodox landing systems I've ever seen, everything seemed to go off without a hitch..
Many interesting discoveries yet to come hopefully.
Lance
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As my old Science teacher said many times....."what the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve"
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I had money that "crazy landing system" wouldn't work!
Well done the rocket scientist! :o
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I had money that "crazy landing system" wouldn't work!
Well done the rocket scientist! :o
Yes when I heard the description of it on that Horizon programme I thought it all sounded a bit Dan Dare.... or even Wallace and Gromit, %% but it obviously worked perfectly, all amazing stuff really and shows what we can be capable of ....
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I was watching live when the first picture came in... "It's a wheel! It's a wheel!..." someone shouted.
Here is an image captured by the orbiter as Curiosity parachuted down.
8)
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I was watching live when the first picture came in... "It's a wheel! It's a wheel!..." someone shouted.
Makes sense. If the wheels had fallen off it wouldn't be much of a rover .......
I'm certainly impressed. The landing system certainly seemed oddball, but I can see some advantages over the usual "throw it at the ground" methods. Really pleased it all worked - just hope the rover doesn't get crippled by some silly problem ... like a wheel falling off ;)
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Brilliant engineering & nice to see not everything is brought to a stop by the poor economy in the U S. Fifty years ago all this would have been science fiction, I wonder what the next fifty years will bring, it makes me sad to know that I won't be around to see it. Despite the best efforts of the dictators of this world the beauty of nature where I live & this kind of progress in science fills my cup like nothing else. Mick B.