Vivian on 8/10/2009 at 08:18
So NASA are planning to joyride one of their old spacecraft straight into the moon tomorrow, literally just to (
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html) see what happens and presumably also to crush the fuck out of some clangers (actually to 'analyse debris plumes' or whatever if you talk NASA talk). Quite apart from treading on Jules Verne's intellectual territory, this sounds like it will be pretty cool - anyone have a big enough telescope (ten inches and up only I'm afraid boys) to see the magic happen?
Koki on 8/10/2009 at 08:50
I guess they saw how much money CERN gets for it's tomfoolery and decided to take similiar approach to science.
scarykitties on 8/10/2009 at 12:46
Ahh, now it makes sense. I was a bit puzzled yesterday when I glanced over an article about a protest against NASA "blowing up the moon."
the_grip on 8/10/2009 at 18:29
Going to have to remember this one the next time someone bitches about space programs not receiving enough money.
Vivian on 8/10/2009 at 19:06
It's actually not a bad idea, cost wise. The point in the impactor is that it throws up a big chunk of regolith and upper crust stuff which can then be analysed by the following probe and spectography etc. The spacecraft they're using was already up there, I think, and so using it's second stage and the probe itself as a bolide is cheaper than launching a different missile. Plus if they find water on the moon that would be fucking sweet.
thefonz on 8/10/2009 at 20:51
Those Clangers had it coming. Up there, mocking us.
On topic though; agreed that this is a genius idea from NASA. I've been reading alot about astrophysics and the Universe (thank you History Channel) and am now coming around to thinking that for NASA to progress and actually move out towards the other planets to see what's going on properly - past probes i mean - some serious creative thinking needs to happen.
scarykitties on 8/10/2009 at 21:10
Soon, we'll be colonizing space, one moon collision at a time.
ZylonBane on 8/10/2009 at 21:20
There is so much stupidity and mangled grammar in this thread, it just makes me want to CRASH SOMETHING INTO THE MOON AARRRGAAARRRRAAAHHH!!!!
Vivian on 8/10/2009 at 21:47
hows about your stupid fat face
