You're right Vigil.:)


(and we should forgive that Columbus guy):rolleyes:

Looking forward to the findings! I haven't updated myself in the goings on lately......and I can always count on my fellow Pixieites to keep me abreast of the latest news!

*knows that everyone is wondering how I find time to peruse Pixies but has no time to read a paper or watch a news report! TeeHee*

LixyChick,

May I presume that you would say that you spend your time on the important things in life?

Um...........well........um.......I pride myself on my priorities according to my time allowance.......

How's that for back peddling?

I think it's only fair dear.:) You keep abreast for me and I'll watch the news for you.;)




(I'll start with the left one please):lust:

Beagle 2
 

Irish,

I still feel that the Beagle remains in good hands, but my confidence took a hit after reading about what lies ahead for it in the immediate future.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3341617.stm

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the engineers did their optimization effectively!

jseal---I know that this has nothing to do with this thread,but did
you know that the BBC has instructed,all of its journalists,to refer
to Saddam as the previous Leader of Iraq,instead of the previous
Dictator of Iraq?(Like the people,of Iraq,had a choice!) Irish

Irish,

I’m sure we all can take solace in that the emphasis is on "previous". Let us hope that the same will not be said of the Beagle 2 a couple of days from now.

Re: Beagle 2
 

<--- *lights candles, hangs garlic on wind vane, burns incense, tosses chicken bones, crosses fingers*

It’s difficult to optimize a crap shoot.:( Unfortunately, “luck” WILL be a key component of this experiment.

PantyFanatic,

I was thinking about the myriad number of trade-offs that went into the finished product.

There was a redesign part way through, when the airbags burst when tested. The new airbags and parachutes had to be heavier, and that meant losing some mass from the scientific payload.

A mass distribution for Beagle 2 had to have already been negotiated between the scientists and the engineers; so many kilograms for the scientific instruments, so many for the parachutes and airbags. I believe that about 3 kg had to go – out of about 68 kg. That’s more than 4%. What goes? What stays? There had to have been some optimization rules/guidelines/procedures, and there must have been some difficult decisions. There is probably little leeway when it costs so much to lift each kilo out of earth’s gravity well.

Gentlefolk,

I read that If all goes well, about 4 hours after touchdown, Beagle 2 will send back a call sign composed by the rock band Blur.

The message will be sent via NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter, which should appear overhead in the Martian sky, on Christmas morning.

How about that for internationalizing the efforts? An example of extra-terrestrial Globalization perhaps?

We may not be able to cooperate on Earth but in the astral heavens all is possible.

When we venture from this planet, we will be seen as one species from the other end of the telescope.

Gentlefok,

From the BBC:

The British-built spacecraft Beagle 2 is believed to have touched down on the surface of the planet Mars.

"All I ask is that everybody keeps their fingers crossed on Christmas Day for us" Mark Sims, Mission Manager

Yeah Team!

Yeah, but when the "Greys" planted on Mars by the Annunikai shoot down the mother ship and destroy the landing probe there will be a cover up.

NASA doesn't want you to know that the ancient "gods" are space aliens an we are imprisoned on this planet as a result of the last war between gods and men.

Sorry, just thought you guys needed a conspriacy theory for the day.