Comments on: MESSENGER moves off

By: RocketScience

RocketScience — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:01:28 +0000

The Messenger spacecraft moves faster than Apollo because it speeds up incredibly as it approaches Earth (it is falling — all orbits are just falling) and Apollo is trying to speed up against gravity. The probe does slow down as it moves away too. As far as the gravity-assist speeding it up or slowing it down, that depends on approach angles and timing and all that.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:16:49 +0000

Makes you realize that we are just one tiny part of the world and that the solar system makes us feel super super super super super super small

By: prowler67

prowler67 — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:31:44 +0000

Kond of makes you realize how alone we are here on earth. I guess most people assume that the solar systen is much smaller. Great video, really makes you appreciate astronomy more.

By: Delance

Delance — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 01:53:20 +0000

From the point of view of Earth, Earth is the center of the universe. Take that Heliocentrism!

By: Ray Gray

Ray Gray — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 01:12:50 +0000

Like an earlier poster wrote about Messenger moving much faster than Apollo’s trip to the Moon and back to Earth over several days, It looks like the “myth” of the Greeks are turning into the Truth:

[start paste]Hermes (Mercury) became a messenger because his father Zeus sought to curb the thieving tendencies Hermes demonstrated. On the day of his birth, Hermes stole his brother Apollo’s cattle in order to create the first sacrifice to the Olympians.[end paste]

So, Apollo’s fire has been ripped off again… :*)

By: icemith

icemith — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:28:18 +0000

Tom, do you mean it’s the singer, and not the song? Aw gee.

Ivan.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 21:24:02 +0000

Nothing more awesome than a living Earth.