![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I
haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? The pics sure look pretty much the same. There were rocks there 25 years ago and sure enough, they're still there. And no sightings of Marvin the Martian yet. I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Doc" wrote in message
m... Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? These rovers do real geology. The Vikings were looking primarily for direct evidence of current life. The MERs are looking for geological evidence of current or former life. I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? A small fraction of the Viking missions, in constant dollars. I vaguely remember one sixth or less, but I could be off either way. Jim McCauley |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
In article ,
Doc wrote: Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? ...I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? "Let those who complain that too much money is being spent on abstract knowledge while people are starving remember this: The alternative to knowledge is savagery. Their very existence as stowaways on the voyage of civilization is owing to advances in science which permit some to live without doing their share of the work. Let them be tolerant, then, lest by encumbering the useful ones they destroy the thing which keeps them alive." -- George Ellery Hale -- MOST launched 30 June; science observations running | Henry Spencer since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending. | |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 02:34:46 GMT, "Jim McCauley"
wrote: "Doc" wrote in message om... Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? These rovers do real geology. The Vikings were looking primarily for direct evidence of current life. The MERs are looking for geological evidence of current or former life. I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? A small fraction of the Viking missions, in constant dollars. I vaguely remember one sixth or less, but I could be off either way. Jim McCauley Price for both rovers is about $800 million, a real bargin for 2 missions with this much potential science return. And you are correct Jim. The VIkings were primarly biological missions, while Pathfinder was simply an engineering demomstration vehicle. The MER's are the 1st "geologists" on Mars...... http://spaceprojects.tk |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Henry Spencer" wrote in message ... In article , Doc wrote: Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? ...I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? "Let those who complain that too much money is being spent on abstract knowledge while people are starving remember this: The alternative to knowledge is savagery. Their very existence as stowaways on the voyage of civilization is owing to advances in science which permit some to live without doing their share of the work. Let them be tolerant, then, lest by encumbering the useful ones they destroy the thing which keeps them alive." -- George Ellery Hale -- MOST launched 30 June; science observations running | Henry Spencer since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending. | Now what do you think that mean Henry, since it can be looked upon it different lights? As an aeronautical engineering student, I am very much for space exploration and opening doors for mankind, but I am also doing my bit and helping today's "starving people", since many of them are in their predicament because their inherent wealth has been taken and now funds such missions. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Doc" wrote in message
m... Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? The pics sure look pretty much the same. There were rocks there 25 years ago and sure enough, they're still there. And no sightings of Marvin the Martian yet. I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? The photos may look similar, but the scientific work http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/science/ going on behind the beautiful scenes is a first. By learning more about martian environment, we'll have more information available to formulate a plan on the history of Mars and how it can benefit us today. Spirit and Opportunity are not about pretty pictures, they are about expanding our scientific knowledge - they are paving the way for mankind, since we cannot go there to explore right now. They are doing an important work. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Let those who complain that too much money is being spent on abstract knowledge while people are starving remember this: The alternative to knowledge is savagery. Their very existence as stowaways on the voyage of civilization is owing to advances in science which permit some to live without doing their share of the work. Let them be tolerant, then, lest by encumbering the useful ones they destroy the thing which keeps them alive." -- George Ellery Hale That is my new "sig" file in all my chat groups! Brent |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Jim McCauley" wrote in
news:aXFQb.145633$na.236073@attbi_s04: "Doc" wrote in message m... I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? A small fraction of the Viking missions, in constant dollars. I vaguely remember one sixth or less, but I could be off either way. Doc hasn't been looking hard. Just about every news story I've seen on this mission mentions the total price tag ($820 million for both landers). Viking cost $972 million in then-year dollars, or about $2.4 billion in today's dollars, for two orbiters and two landers. -- JRF Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail, check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and think one step ahead of IBM. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Dre" wrote in message
... "Henry Spencer" wrote in message ... In article , Doc wrote: Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't? ...I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody? "Let those who complain that too much money is being spent on abstract knowledge while people are starving remember this: The alternative to knowledge is savagery. Their very existence as stowaways on the voyage of civilization is owing to advances in science which permit some to live without doing their share of the work. Let them be tolerant, then, lest by encumbering the useful ones they destroy the thing which keeps them alive." -- George Ellery Hale -- MOST launched 30 June; science observations running | Henry Spencer since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending. | Now what do you think that mean Henry, since it can be looked upon it different lights? As an aeronautical engineering student, I am very much for space exploration and opening doors for mankind, but I am also doing my bit and helping today's "starving people", since many of them are in their predicament because their inherent wealth has been taken and now funds such missions. What starving people have had their wealth taken from them in order to fund the Mars exploration program? |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Dre" wrote in message ...
"Henry Spencer" wrote in message ... "Let those who complain that too much money is being spent on abstract knowledge while people are starving remember this: The alternative to knowledge is savagery. Their very existence as stowaways on the voyage of civilization is owing to advances in science which permit some to live without doing their share of the work. Let them be tolerant, then, lest by encumbering the useful ones they destroy the thing which keeps them alive." -- George Ellery Hale Now what do you think that mean Henry, since it can be looked upon it different lights? As an aeronautical engineering student, I am very much for space exploration and opening doors for mankind, but I am also doing my bit and helping today's "starving people", since many of them are in their predicament because their inherent wealth has been taken and now funds such missions. What it means is simple. Ask yourself, how many people are starving *to death* in the US right now? Very, very few. How many people are really starving to the point of serious medical effects due to malnurishment? Very, very few. Ply the streets my friend, look at the poor and the indigent. Are they well and truly starving? Are they hollow cheeked? Do their bones show clearly under their skin because they have no fat and no muscle? You will find that, in fact, they are not truly starving but merely, perhaps, on occasion hungry, if that. Indeed, it is not unusual to find a poor or homeless individual who is fat. Why is this so? Why are there so few deaths due to malnurishment in the western world (as there had been in abundance *everywhere* throughout human history)? Is it because of some greater compasion for the needy? No. It is due primarily to greed, and research, and invention. All those "wasteful" enterprises which the "truly compasionate" would have us abandon. It is due to things like the one time rich man's toy, the automobile. It is due to things like the frivolous, blue sky interest in the genetics of species. It is due to the greed of farmers and agribusinesses wanting to make higher profits. That's how we ended up with tractors and refrigeration and pesticides and high-yield crops and efficient irrigation and all those upteen kajillion things that add up to cheap food and an effective end to starvation. Here's another excercise for you, go to a grocery store, price a 25 lb. bag of flour or rice. Ask how in the world anyone, even the homeless, could really be "starving" in today's world. But then again, you already learned in your previous excercise that they aren't. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Delta-Like Fan On Mars Suggests Ancient Rivers Were Persistent | Ron Baalke | Science | 0 | November 13th 03 10:06 PM |
If You Thought That Was a Close View of Mars, Just Wait (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) | Ron Baalke | Science | 0 | September 23rd 03 11:25 PM |
NASA Selects UA 'Phoenix' Mission To Mars | Ron Baalke | Science | 0 | August 4th 03 11:48 PM |
Students and Teachers to Explore Mars | Ron Baalke | Science | 0 | July 18th 03 08:18 PM |