The Rosetta probe has woken up ...

[Denver]

It knows we're here to kill it.

I think Philae had a falling out (or off) with Rosetta during it's long relationship. Things got violent, and Philae was forced to flee for its life. It's saving the harpoons now for self defense, just in case.

 

[Soapy Sam]

Ever see one of those baby bouncer things?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=b...MHsyP7Ab-1YGgAg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=930

They were in vogue a few years back , purportedly to train babies to walk. (Because after 2 million years on our hind legs, we might be forgetting).
Pretty useless, as unless the tension is adjusted to the kid's weight, he can't get traction.

Anyway, apart from the wedgie effect, I suspect the lander may feel like it's in one of these and having to stretch its legs and curl its toes just to stay on the ground at all.

 

[anglolawyer]

Super glue!

 

[Beelzebuddy]

Ever see one of those baby bouncer things?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=b...MHsyP7Ab-1YGgAg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=930

They were in vogue a few years back , purportedly to train babies to walk. (Because after 2 million years on our hind legs, we might be forgetting).
Pretty useless, as unless the tension is adjusted to the kid's weight, he can't get traction.

Anyway, apart from the wedgie effect, I suspect the lander may feel like it's in one of these and having to stretch its legs and curl its toes just to stay on the ground at all.

As it turns out, even when they were used correctly they were a bad idea - kids were having hip problems from their legs rotating too early from the weight. Or not rotating enough. One of those.


But anyone who's ever landed a probe on Bop in KSP knows what Philae's gone through: "Oh crap oh crap we just bounced we're in the air again oh crap go back down go down don't tip over DON'T TIP OVERRROOKAY WE'RE SETTLING!"

 

[Faydra]

If 67P were to veer our way and hit us, would it be a global extinction event?

 

[Faydra]

Hmm, trying to answer my own question I stumbled upon this site, which has kept me amused for a good 20 minutes so far.

http://www.purdue.edu/impactearth/

 

[Pianoro]

If 67P were to veer our way and hit us, would it be a global extinction event?

Notwithstanding other factors such as velocity and density, the size of Churyumov–Gerasimenko is in the same ballpark as the Chicxulub impactor (estimated size) of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

 

[Mikemcc]

If 67P were to veer our way and hit us, would it be a global extinction event?

If it does, I'd be more worried about who did it...

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Graphic showing comparative size.

 

[a_unique_person]

At least it won't be like the lunar landings. "hey everyone, we are on the moon now, time for a nap"

 

[anglolawyer]

They had a model of the comet on the BBC. About the size of a car. I want one for my front room.

 

[Faydra]

I think its way bigger than a car. (See Gawdzilla's link)

 

[anglolawyer]

I think its way bigger than a car. (See Gawdzilla's link)

The real thing, yes, the model, no.

 

[MG1962]

Said in the latest briefing: "We didn't land once, we landed twice!"

Some of the telemetry indicates that Philae slowly bounced once.

Next briefing tomorrow @14:00 CET

Damn European drivers, lucky the didn't have to reverse park the thing

 

[Faydra]

The real thing, yes, the model, no.

Ah, sorry - I misunderstood. Would be an interesting coffee table.

 

[jhunter1163]

Scientists are hard at work calculating just how many separate and distinct kinds of awesome this is.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Scientists are hard at work calculating just how many separate and distinct kinds of awesome this is.

It's quantum awesome, of course.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

It's quantum awesome, of course.

If it stays alive for another 5 weeks or so, it will be quantum of solstice.

 

[marplots]

Yeah, with all those non-foreign Germans working on that and all...

It's a shame we have to hire talent from other countries. What's happened to our education system when the US can't even produce second-rate space engineers?

Still, I'm glad they didn't have to harpoon the thing. There would have been no end to the dismay about traveling so far just to kill a comet.

 

[alfaniner]

That "Live" special on the Science Channel was just not all that well-done. It was missing the most basic information that would have made it a lot more interesting, like the size of the comet (shown nicely in that graphic linked above). I would also have liked to see a map as I had no idea where the thing had to fly to meet the comet. I think there was one quick graphic done as if on a chalkboard.

It would also have been nice to see some actual dates regarding the project, like, how long ago did they discuss the landing sites, and maybe a timeline of the last day or so.