Sometimes, humanity is just so freakin' amazing

Posted by: Kevin-W on 12 November 2014

Anyone else glued to the telly (BBC News channel for me) absolutely shaking with excitement over the Rosetta mission and the little Philae probe, which is, as I write this, only minutes away from touching down on the surface of a comet?

 

On a ****ing comet! A comet that is travelling at 34,000 miles an hour, and which is THREE HUNDRED MILLION miles away. Absolutely incredible.This is even more exciting than Huygens landing on Titan back in 2005.

 

This is history being made in front of our eyes, and, if all goes well, it will not only be one of the greatest technical achievements in all history, but also a mission of potentially incalculable scientific value.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Kevin-W

Great news! Philae has landed, is on the surface and is talking to mission control! AWESOME!

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Kevin-W

Sorry, in my excitement I put this in the Music Room. Richard, could you possibly move to the Padded Cell?

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Hmack

Before the post moves, I can confirm that you are not the only one on this forum fascinated by this achievement.

 

From my time at University, when I took Astronomy as a supplementary course to my Mathematics degree, I have always been into anything Astronomy related.

 

Amazing!

 

 

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by BigH47

I agree it is a stupendous achievement. I'm a sucker for any space project and after the tragic failure on the Virgin project, this gives a very warm feeling.

It shows what can be achieved by mankind like CERN when differences are put aside and a common goal is aimed at.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Kevin-W

Another remarkable thing - it wasn't that long ago that we looked up at the sky and saw a comet as a portent of doom. Now we've just landed on one. That's progress.

 

This landing is, as one ESA scientist said, the equivalent of throwing a hammer in Trafalgar Square and it hitting a nail in Delhi.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Southweststokie
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Great news! Philae has landed, is on the surface and is talking to mission control! AWESOME!

 

+1, I am also an astronomy fan, truly great achievement. So far yet such precision with the assistance of Einsteins relativity

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by DrMark

Amazing technological feat...

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by SiHancox

Been watching the ESA stream most of the day, agree great achievement - now let's hope they can secure it with the harpoon system so it remains in place.

 

Si.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by tonym

My flabber is totally Gasted!

 

A truly awesome achievement indeed. Those involved for all those years deserve to be hugely proud.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by hafler3o
Originally Posted by DrMark:

Amazing technological feat...

Seconded, makes me want to start over on my Cosmos series box-set. High fives to Carl Sagan, I'm sure he's watching too, from some privelidged place.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

 

 

 the equivalent of throwing a hammer in Trafalgar Square and it hitting a nail in Delhi.

 

 

People in Dehli are delighetd to sacrifice their fingers,

 

 

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by fred simon

Truly thrilling. I love that the probe has a "nose" to analyze the gases.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Originally Posted by fred simon:

Truly thrilling. I love that the probe has a "nose" to analyze the gases.

 

 

Leave a couple of eggs on kitchen table for say a 10 days and you'll get the full atmosphere fragrance.

Posted on: 12 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
Originally Posted by fred simon:

Truly thrilling. I love that the probe has a "nose" to analyze the gases.

 

 

Leave a couple of eggs on kitchen table for say a 10 days and you'll get the full atmosphere fragrance.

I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in two weeks time when I'll have a close encounter with a  probe and there'll no doubt be plenty of gases.  Back on topic...

Posted on: 13 November 2014 by Gianluigi Mazzorana