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New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

bbc.co.uk

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Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#71

Post by [deleted] »

whatshisface wrote: post #18
dingaling wrote: post #4

That flag-waving and chanting of U-S-A U-S-A at the point of closest approach was one of the most appalling, jingoistic, alienating spectacles I've ever seen. You'd think they had just planted the flag in the soil ( ice? ) and claimed Pluto for God and America. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Space Race is over. Grow up. You're doing this for all humanity.

It's true that all of humanity will benefit, but it's also true that a very specific subset of humanity payed for it. Look at it from a purely practical perspective - it is absolutely unnecessary for anyone outside of America to like this program! The American voting public took on all of the downsides of this program (the expense, mainly). They hold complete control over its existence, and the existence of many miss…

[deleted]

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#72

Post by andor436 »

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #65

There's a detailed and informative article about the design of the New Horizons probe on the British Interplanetary Society site at [1]. An even more detailed description of the science payload can be found at [2]. [1] http://www.bis-space.com/2015/07/13/14875/inside-new-horizon... [2] http://www.boulder.swri.edu/pkb/ssr/ssr-payload-overview.pdf

For the Twitter-inclined follow Emily Lakdawalla [1] - she is usually mere seconds behind the actual data, which is pretty amazing.

[1] https://twitter.com/elakdawalla

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#73

Post by Mahn »

Arjuna wrote: post #52

In honor of Clyde William Tombaugh [1], the astronomer who discovered Pluto, a canister [2] containing his ashes is on-board the New Horizons space probe. It reads: "Interned herein are remains of American Clyde W. Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto and the Solar System's 'Third Zone.' Adelle and Muron's boy, Patricia's husband, Annette and Alden's father, astronomer, teacher, punster, and friend: Clyde W. Tombaugh (1906…

His wikipedia page also has an amusing quote on the origin on this mission:

In August 1992, JPL scientist Robert Staehle called Tombaugh, requesting permission to visit his planet. "I told him he was welcome to it," Tombaugh later remembered, "though he's got to go one long, cold trip." The call eventually led to the launch of the New Horizons space probe to Pluto in 2006.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#74

Post by bla2 »

scrollaway wrote: post #57
pavlov wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rosetta/Philae was a European achievement paid by the EU public, yet that barely gets mentioned. It's really a shame that the endless churn of downbeat economic news has overshadowed everything good that European countries are able to do together... Maybe Europe would benefit from having a bit more American-style "rah-rah" patriotism around the good old "12 stars on deep blue" EU flag. Nowadays it seems that we Europ…

> Maybe Europe would benefit from having a bit more American-style "rah-rah" patriotism around the good old "12 stars on deep blue" EU flag. Something most americans don't understand is how repulsive blatant patriotism is. A lot of europeans, along with their nationality, have a sense of being "european", just like most americans have a sense of being "american" (rather than just "Californian" or what have you). Ther…

I agree with all this, but note that he suggested chanting "Europe! Europe!", not "! !". That doesn't make it less blatant, but it does mostly solve the alienation issue you mention.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#75

Post by HarryHirsch »

adventured wrote: post #44
saiya-jin wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oh please, no american-style patriotism here in europe. I respect our american friends, but please, just... no. to give reasons would mean insulting probably more than few, so I refrain from that. let's say we're not all the same, we've grown up in different environments, and there are quite a few things I personally don't like in current US, and would not see many reasons to be proud. that we have our own issues is…

You already have that exact same patriotism there. Enter any thread, on any major forum online, and bring up any of the following topics: healthcare, crime rates, gun control, two party systems, standard of living, inequality, conservative religiousness. You'll be rapidly overwhelmed by bragging from Europeans, about how they're superior. You can't get away from the boastfulness out of Scandinavia, Germany, France, t…

What if Germany, France and Scandinavia were superior to the US? The murder rate in the US is 3 times higher than in Europe, French banlieues are pretty harsh but have nothing on Northeast Philly, creationism is a non-issue on the Old Continent outside minor communities, and US healthcare is a total mess. I saw this video the other night about a team of physicians going somewhere near Bristol, TN. What's this? It's scenes you'd think you'd see in Africa.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#76

Post by scrollaway »

andor436 wrote: post #70
scrollaway wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Maybe Europe would benefit from having a bit more American-style "rah-rah" patriotism around the good old "12 stars on deep blue" EU flag. Something most americans don't understand is how repulsive blatant patriotism is. A lot of europeans, along with their nationality, have a sense of being "european", just like most americans have a sense of being "american" (rather than just "Californian" or what have you). Ther…

Have you never attended a European football match?!

Have you never attended any football match? I'm not sure this counters my point in any way. If I were to listen to my local club, the east side of my city is just so much better than the west side.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#77

Post by nitrogen »

lmorris84 wrote: post #59

Does anyone know how they colour correct these images? I'm guessing there isn't a robotic arm holding up a test card in front of the camera :-)

Interestingly enough, I think that's exactly how the Curiosity rover calibrates its camera, though it's the camera on the robotic arm looking at a fixed test pattern.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#78

Post by lukeschlather »

dombili wrote: post #47
dingaling wrote: post #4

That flag-waving and chanting of U-S-A U-S-A at the point of closest approach was one of the most appalling, jingoistic, alienating spectacles I've ever seen. You'd think they had just planted the flag in the soil ( ice? ) and claimed Pluto for God and America. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Space Race is over. Grow up. You're doing this for all humanity.

I wouldn't go so far as saying it was appalling, but it was in bad taste. No one doubts Americans are ahead of everyone else in terms of science and exploration, so they certainly deserve to celebrate however they want, but science and exploration are beautiful and inspirational because they're borderless and bring humanity closer, even if it's for a short moment. I'd have preferred them not to chant U-S-A and wave f…

I think everyone talking about this as in bad taste isn't looking at the big picture. What if we could take all the energy people direct at the World Cup and redirect it towards space exploration? I mean seriously, the World Cup's budget this year is roughly 15 billion, NASA's budget is 18 billion.

I think part of me would prefer a calmer, more civilized approach to space exploration, but on the balance I'll take twice the budget if I can get it.

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#79

Post by andyjohnson0 »

lmorris84 wrote: post #59

Does anyone know how they colour correct these images? I'm guessing there isn't a robotic arm holding up a test card in front of the camera :-)

Check out [1]. Seems to be a combination of pre-flight calibration tests and in-flight observation of stars and planets with known optical characteristics.

[1] http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS7/SESSIONS/Session%2...

Re: New Horizons: Nasa spacecraft speeds past Pluto

#80

Post by saiya-jin »

adventured wrote: post #44
saiya-jin wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oh please, no american-style patriotism here in europe. I respect our american friends, but please, just... no. to give reasons would mean insulting probably more than few, so I refrain from that. let's say we're not all the same, we've grown up in different environments, and there are quite a few things I personally don't like in current US, and would not see many reasons to be proud. that we have our own issues is…

You already have that exact same patriotism there. Enter any thread, on any major forum online, and bring up any of the following topics: healthcare, crime rates, gun control, two party systems, standard of living, inequality, conservative religiousness. You'll be rapidly overwhelmed by bragging from Europeans, about how they're superior. You can't get away from the boastfulness out of Scandinavia, Germany, France, t…

ok you got me there, due to my bad wording. I am not specifically proud of European achievements (although our bureaucracy can be spectacular, so it's even bigger achievement in my eyes), if China/India/Russia/whoever would be doing some successful novel space exploration missions, I would be proud equally. And by same logic, same is valid for US (and this mission).

It's just that I long consider myself citizen of this world, rather than citizen of some pre-marked real estate, which was different 500 (or even 100) years ago, and will no doubt change beyond recognition many times in future. patriotism goes in direct opposition to this belief, bringing "us and them" mentality (with obvious emphasis that "us" is better), which I personally believe isn't something to be proud of and strive for in 21st century. Bear in mind this is my personal opinion, I don't represent all citizens of Europe any more than you do represent all US citizens :)

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