Comments on: Mars press briefing, Friday at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern)

By: Patrick Anderson

Patrick Anderson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:05:00 +0000

I just listened to the recovered piano rolls recorded by Mahler himself. Strange to listen to the tempi, the fortes knowing that it was the master himself who gave his impression of his music.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:34:16 +0000

It may well be that the exploration which was done by the Beagle’s scientists and crew as it circumnavigated the world two centuries ago was the last time such a combined exploration/scientific expedition will be possible. The dangers faced by the crew were real enough, but technically not insurmountable even with the technical limitations and physical restrictions of the time. Space exploration by humans would seem to be another venture entirely, posing risks and hazards of often unimaginable proportions. But that is what some of us humans seem to be able to do best: take risks. We also have to find someone to invest in those risky schemes, and increasingly that investment cannot be supported entirely by the private sector – governments must get involved (Bert Rutan aside). However, science and risk takers are now spread across the globe as other governments pursue the science of space exploration. Perhaps it is time for a collective of interested governments which want to pursue the science of manned space exploration to pool their resources (and stifle their need to be “first”). The Russian/U.S. joint ventures were a start. I wonder if the time is right for a “United Nations of Space Exploration” to organize itself; I would bet that countries which could never hope to mount manned explorations of their own would be happy to be included in a combined effort. Then again, given the “medal counting” seen at the Olympic events, maybe this is simply wishful thinking…

By: Rumour Mongerer

Rumour Mongerer — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:45:22 +0000

It’s just me being nit-picky, but there’s something amusing in that the Bad Astronomer typos “the Mar Reconnaissance Orbiter”… What’s it planning on doing when it gets there?

By: dukrous

dukrous — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:38:41 +0000

Explaining something like that is difficult to the layman. I just explain to people that the biggest reason we have cellphones with these awesome cameras and other gizmos is because NASA landed on the Moon. If we don’t do something equally as ambitious, then consumer technology here in the US will stagnate.

That tends to get people to ask what can be done…the answer is putting footprints on Mars. And after Mars, we just keep going further. Then we’ll get some really kick-ass cellphones.

By: Thomas Siefert

Thomas Siefert — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:56:12 +0000

If only people would realise what a feat it is, not only to have the Mars rovers run way beyond their expected life cycle, but also that we can see the pictures from Mars right here on Earth!

By: Chet

Chet — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:07:47 +0000

Thanks, Tom G! More of the public should know and access that website.
I’ll pass it on to my wife who teaches sixth grade science.

By: Blake Stacey

Blake Stacey — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 18:52:11 +0000

If all American voters were still wide-eyed kids in elementary school, we’d have a Mars base by now.

That JPL photojournal rocks, by the way.