"Tom Merkle" wrote in message

Almost everything that happens that can be hyped does get hyped.

agree 100%. When I hear that NASA scientists are 'astounded' and
'don't know what to think' over current pictures from Opportunity, I
imagine that they must have found an alien artifact or something--only
to discover that the jaw-dropping was from seeing the two different
types of rock, which the same people who are 'astounded' originally
listed as a reason for sending MER B to that location in the first
place! Gee, what a miracle.

We've seen the same thing happen when a probe arrives pretty much anywhere
in the solar system. For Mars, we only experience a growth of close-up
experience a little at a time. The early moments of revelations of new
vistas -- after a period of years of hard work, and following the risky and
exhilirating EDL process -- is always breathtaking. I think it's great to
see this cohesive team of competent people experiencing what I am sure will
be a career high for them, and observe how their curiousity drives their
motivation.

Not being able to comprehend this excitement shows not only a lack of
understanding of their experience, but a lack of imagination. It takes no
effort to mentally temper their colorful statements if you are put off. Let
them be excited.

Jon