How to Land on a Comet - NASA Science - Galt's Gulch

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How to Land on a Comet - NASA Science

Posted by WBD 10 years, 1 month ago to Science

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More human achievement to admire. You build a craft to land on a celestial body that you've never seen and don't know exactly what it's made of. You just know it's there.

SOURCE URL: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/03nov_rosettalanding/

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Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 1 month ago

I sure hope this mission is successful. We have seen enough "agony of defeat" lately...It is man's nature to explore. "Why does a man climb a mountain? Because it is there."

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Posted by AJAshinoff 10 years, 1 month ago

This is going to be a huge step for mankind. The first step toward asteroid/comet mining and a solid human presence in space.

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  Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 1 month ago
  
  Asteroid landing is a walk in the park by comparison, imo. Mining, otoh, will take some robotic tech upgrades still in r & d. The industry is just starting to test unmanned trucks driving within well defined mine sites on earth. Another example of how different mining will be: Power needed to do mining under earth gravity is substantial and is almost exclusively diesel powered internal combustion engines. On asteroids a completely different power source must be used. It will be a magnificent undertaking!
  
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    Posted by AJAshinoff 10 years, 1 month ago
    
    I never said it would be easy or immediate but it all starts with a safe landing.
    
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      Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 1 month ago
      
      Sorry, didn't mean it as any critique of your comment. To quote Gilbert and Sullivan:
      "Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude "
      ;^)
      
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        Posted by AJAshinoff 10 years, 1 month ago
        
        I didn't take it as a critique. In spite of everything else this landing makes for exciting times and expands the fodder for my sci-fi novels. :) No worries.
        
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