Space Disaster! Deep Impact probe hits comet

[Roadtoad]

This morning's Arizona Republic has a timely article on a Scottsdale charity called "The Presidential Prayer Team", established to encourage people to pray for the President.

3 million people have signed up and have donated over $6 million. Unfortunately the charity has been in the red since it was formed, and is now in the hole $531,891.

But... oh yeah... we were discussing all those starving children that could be fed with Nasa's budget. I suppose. -sigh- but it probably just go into more prayer donations.

Scientific research is a good thing. Feeding hungry children is a good thing too.

Funny thing, how all that money that could go to feeding hungry kids never seems to make that trip from my wallet to the kid's mouth. While on the other hand, NASA seems to have figured out a way to make a five dollar bill cover what most folks would need a fifty to handle.

What's wrong with this picture?

 

[rdtjr]

Hmmmm, seems to me that this mission did indeed feed hungry children. There were probably dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of people involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and monitoring this mission. Then there's the folks who mined metals, synthesized plastics, fabricated parts, created software, and sold those products to the contractors and NASA folks building the mission. They all got paid. That's mortages paid for and dinners on tables. Isn't it?

So in effect, the money did feed and clothe hungry kids...

 

[Nyarlathotep]

In the end folks....who gives a rats arse what comets are made of? My bet is that one was made of rock.....They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....

Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice.

Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still...

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I don't think any of you are thinking of the children.

 

[Brown]

I for one am tired of these filthy, smelly comets barging into our inner solar system, uninvited.

NASA has taken one giant leap toward cleaning up outer space by making an example of this particular comet. Let us hope that the other comets were paying attention.

 

[The Fool]

Then I am glad they didn't just call you for the information since comets are generally NOT made of rock, they are made of ice.

Maybe not as interesting as the zero-g porn, but still...

Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct.

 

[The Fool]

double

 

[Chris O.]

Actually, according to this article, http://www.aftenposten.no/viten/article1074132.ece (unfortunately only in Norwegian,) a Russion astrologer is suing Nasa for "upsetting the cosmic balance" and making her work inaccurate.

(I must admit, the story does seem a little too good to be true and I suspect a newspaper canard.)

I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court.

Edited for spelling

 

[nightwind]

Space Rock

I have a feeling that one day in the future, we will be glad that we did develop an ability to contact a spacecraft with a comet, asteroid, etc.

Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet.

With several near misses by space objects, and the "big one" out there, we probably do need to practice some.

 

[rdtjr]

Bet you ten bucks that one was made of rock and not ice....I am never wrong except when I say something that is not correct.

I'll take that bet. By definition it can't be a comet unless it is mostly, or at least heavily composed of, ices. If it wasn't mostly ices there would be nothing to heat up and vent off to make it a comet.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: Space Rock

Trust me, they are interested in more than just analyzing the makeup of the comet.

I heard one of the lead scientists on the project being interviewed a few days ago. He said on of the practical benefits of this mission is that if the day should ever come that we need to destroy or divert a comet on a collision course with Earth, we will want to know some things, like a comets density, that we will get from this mission.

 

[Ausmerican]

Headline from “The Outer Rim Galactic Observer”
“EARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RV”
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their ‘Comet’ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of it’s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
“The vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why don’t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?”

 

[Roadtoad]

Headline from “The Outer Rim Galactic Observer”
“EARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RV”
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their ‘Comet’ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of it’s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
“The vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why don’t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?”

Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award!

 

[kuroyume0161]

I just saw a news story on the local news station saying the same thing, the astrologer is suing for $300 million. I hope the judge laughs her out of court.

Edited for spelling

I saw this on CNN last night and the newsanchor was visibly smirking and giggling while announcing the story.

This would a great chance to take astrology to court and shred it to little itty-bitty pieces. Make sure to get the "Bad Astronomy" guy on the stand and P&T can do some magic in the courtroom for real entertainment...

ETA: Since cometary and asteroid collisions happen on a regular (and frequent) basis through the solar system, I'd like to have her information on how she keeps track of all of these changes in the 'astrological dynamic'. Not even NASA, JSA, and ESA combined with all of the amateur astronomers could do that with thousands of times their budget. Wow! She is amazing............. ;{P

 

[kuroyume0161]

Congrats! You just got a nom for the language award!

Language award!? This is the most original idea for a Sci-Fi movie since 'Critters'.

 

[RandFan]

Headline from “The Outer Rim Galactic Observer”
“EARTH BITCHSLAPS TOURIST RV”
Again the human race of Earth has shown its complete disregard for the other races that share their Universe. A family of Plutonians, those lovable microscopic party animals we all love, was wiped out this week.
The 15,000,000 members of the Ursharzz family were on a long awaited tour of the Solar System when their ‘Comet’ class RV was brutally punched in the face as it passed near the planet Earth. Earth has long been out of favor with many of the other sentient races in the Universe for its habit of leaving large pieces of litter behind every time any of it’s inhabitants leave their atmosphere.
When asked to comment Interplanetary Task Force Commander Langarr ZZestin was quoted as saying the following.
“The vicious bitchslapping of this craft will not go unpunished. A squadron is preparing to go to Earth immediately to respond with our normal retaliatory measures of making crop circles, mutilating cattle and appearing blurry in photographs. Why don’t these humans ever learn? I heard it cost $330 million to stage this unprovoked attack on the Ursharzz vehicle! Do you know how many Earth children that would feed? Do they ever think of the children?”

 

[Dr Adequate]

They could have called me for that info and saved the money for something usefull, like the worlds first zero G porno or something else that would sell.....

ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

Oh, and the porn thing has been done, though not by NASA.

 

[TragicMonkey]

ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

Memo
To: Dr A
From: Winged Monkey Squadron Commander

Sorry, won't be able to make the scheduled attack on The Fool. It seems most of the squad has gotten stuck in a zero-gravity environment. They seem to be making pornography.

Maybe next time.

PS: I had what I thought was free fall at the Pottery Barn, but it turned out to be rather expensive, as I ran into some breakable objects. I had them charge it to your expense account. Hope that's okay.

 

[The Fool]

ARRRRRRRRRGH!

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ZERO GRAVITY!

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH. I was using a common term to make a cheap sex joke, not presenting a physics paper..



YOU MEAN "FREE FALL" AND YOU WILL SAY "FREE FALL" OR I UNLEASH THE WINGED MONKEYS!

refuse to say free fall, unleash the monkeys......

Oh, and the porn thing has been done, though not by NASA.
evidence? Links? copy sent to me in plain brown paper wrapper?