Beagle 2

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As a dyed-in-the-wool fan I think we should be spending much more on space exploration.

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I take it Tom you'll be watching the Royal Institute Christmas Lectures starting on CH4 1.55 Sunday. I look forward to these every year although last year's wasn't so good.

Fingers crossed for beagle 2. I too would like to see much more spent on space exploration. Also more on renewable energy. All this money they waste on schools and hospitals - ridiculous.


Steve B

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Originally posted by Steve B:
All this money they waste on schools and hospitals - ridiculous. Steve B

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Quite right. It's a total waste of money when you consider how much more fun it is to fire projectile junk at other planets. Why should we have all the rubbish?

Harry

They went to the moon and there was fuck all there...

THey know less about the oceans than space...

They should spend money solving Earth's problems first - we've got enough of them here. Plus the amount of fuel it takes to bung something into space is criminal...

That said, I was gutted about Beagle disappearing - how typical - use Alba when only Naim would do hey?

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

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They should spend money solving Earth's problems first

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Despite the need to solve Earth's problems, as an inquisitive, exploratory species we still need to push the envelope and look further afield than our own planet. If we'd followed the 'stay at home' advice many centuries ago, Beagle 1 would never have set sail!

David

Some say it was a mistake ever coming down from the trees. I say we should never have left the ocean...

"Be my lover, don't cause me pain, just play me John Coltrane"

As a Yorkshireman my Father would very likely agree with you, though those quota's are still questionable ?

Fritz Von Arryramsdon

The amount of money spent in the last fifty years on space exploration is a tiny fraction of the amount spent in the same time on weapons, military forces and wars.

It is not ultimately a lack of funds that is holding back the progress of humanity but our collective lack of foresight, wisdom and moral courage.

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Originally posted by SM:
Somethings are foolish, I know. I started feeling that way when Challenger exploded then when Columbia turned into sky trash with some really geat people aboard...But IMHO, explore we must.

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Columbia was bad luck; Challenger was corporate manslaughter. They KNEW about the risks of the o-rings on the SBRs failing (the highest-risk component of the entire Shuttle) yet they launched anyway. OH dear - look, our o-ring's failed, now this jet of hot air's caught fire and has cut the support strut. Oh my how surprising then that the thing's just blown up. Maybe we should have waited for the temperature to rise hey?...

...just like ramming an "unsinkable" ship into a known icefield at full speed ahead...

A real waste of life IMHO. Why take unneccessary risks - they could have luanched Challenger a couple of days later (I mean, it was already delayed so what's the difference). Crazy...

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

The Beagle failure ruined my Xmas morning. I think this was an entirely patriotic response. I loved the idea of a cut price craft built out of paperclips and blu-tac, mission control in a garden shed and all run by a scientist with implausible sideburns straight from a late 1970's OU film.

It is a sad reflection on my character that when the American craft lands, gracefully unfolds a full suite of laboratory equipment and discovers life (or oil) I will not be anywhere near as excited.


Bruce

Too many cigarettes I reckon....

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Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
The Beagle failure ruined my Xmas morning.

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Me too. It's not like they get another chance that easily. All that work!! - it is truly gutting. Still - as far as I'm concerned, the team are still heroes for getting so close.

I was told that the problems with Beagle 2 happened because Beagle 2 was driving at the wrong side.

Arye

Maybe they shouldn't have let a dog do the driving ?

They should have tested it out on Robot wars first...



Stephen

PS. these are space scientists of the Blue peter generation. Beagle 2 was made of sticky-back plastic and squeezy bottles and used bubble wrap for impact protection. And didn't the 'mission controller' look like Graham Garden from 'The Goodies'?

'Crickelwood....we have a problem'

PPS I think they were all wonderful and I'm gutted too....

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Steve