allardjd 1,853 Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 If I recall, it was Delhi rather than Dubai hifly said... I heard that the mission was the equivalent of throwing a hammer from London and hitting a nail on the head in Dubai. When is the next opportunity for the lander to wake up and transmit, or does anyone know? Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 It looks like they got a pretty good data dump from the surface experiments and the core-drill specimens. John Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 When is the next opportunity for the lander to wake up and transmit, or does anyone know? They have one solar generator that is illuminated every cometary day, not for long, but it's something so there is hope. As it gest closer to the sun, who knows. The comet will undergo significant changes so anything is possible. It could be wrecked, blown off the surface, spring into life if it catches the sun for long enough, anything I guess. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 For those in the UK... Sky at Night BBC4 tonight Rosetta special Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 It's too bad they opted for solar power instead of nuclear, which is more typical for deep-space probes. If they had, Philae might still be merrily working away and sending data instead of being comatose in the shadow of a rock. Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 I understand that Philae is about the size of a domestic washing machine. I suppose Comet is a good place to go for white goods. To our friends abroad, Comet is a retailer selling domestic appliances. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Comet is an abrasive kitchen cleanser here... Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 It's too bad they opted for solar power instead of nuclear, which is more typical for deep-space probes. If they had, Philae might still be merrily working away and sending data instead of being comatose in the shadow of a rock. The thought had crossed my mind. Why not a radioisotope thermoelectric generator? Perhaps a solar generator was chosen in order to reduce weight. Given that the lander is only the size of a small fridge, and packed full of scientific instruments, maybe an RTG would have been too heavy and taken up to much space in a compact lander? I'm speculating of course, I have no idea how big or heavy an RTG is. Interestingly, when the lander employed is hammer, [basically a hammer with a temp probe] the surface was harder than they thought, in fact the hammer broke. Looks like the ice beneath the top layer of dust is harder than expected. There is already evidence that the core is beginning to melt, evidence has been detected in orbit. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Interestingly, when the lander employed is hammer, [basically a hammer with a temp probe] the surface was harder than they thought, in fact the hammer broke. How do they use a hammer in such a low-gravity environment? I would think striking the surface with a hammer would lift the lander right off. There must way of producing an opposing force but can't think off the top of my head what it would be. Those guys are a lot smarter than me, so probably have figured it out. Briefly fire a thruster upward while doing the hammer strike, perhaps? Anyone have any opinions on the #shirtstorm issue? Link to post Share on other sites
markhudson6 13 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Hi John, from what I can tell the hammer was extended on an arm 1m from the lander so it wasn't directly below it or anything. The arm was designed as a 'C' cross section to allow the hammer to operate in a low gravity environment. The recoil from the hammer was absorbed by way of a spring system resulting in a very small opposing force. The hammer was basically a metal probe with a heating element and sensors etc housed in a carbon tube with a small step motor attached. As for shirt storm, I guess the general media had to find an angle on the story without all that science stuff getting in the way. The shirt was a birthday gift from a female friend. Maybe not appropriate attire for work, but these crazy scientists. I watched his public apology and felt very sorry for the guy. M. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Anyone have any opinions on the #shirtstorm issue? Yes, I do have an opinion on it... I was enraged! What the poor guy experienced was extreme internet bullying. Okay, he wore a shirt with scantly clad ladies on it, nothing extreme... big deal. He's a heterosexual male, so what. The shirt was even designed by a "female" friend, but that didn't stop the feminists sorry pseudo feminists, extremists actually, ripping the guy to pieces on social media. They bullied the guy to such an extent that he broke down in tears on TV. They deserve locking up in my opinion. These extremists - there's nothing wrong with "true" feminism - campaign for the right to don whatever outfits they choose, I recall images of topless feminists holding placards over their naked breasts, demanding the right. So ironic really, that the same right isn't granted the scientist in question. Kim Kardashian can shove out her huge bum in a photo shoot recently, and pose totally naked, naughty bits on show, and they don't bat an eyelid. The worst thing about it though, is that this guy was in the midst of experiencing the proudest moment of his life, something he had worked hard to achieve for many years. Probably the pinnacle of his career. And these wicked individuals have compromised that for him... over a shirt. Link to post Share on other sites
markhudson6 13 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 More and more journalists mutter that awful sentence....."now, what are they saying on social media" Yikes!!! They know the majority of them are nasty little trolls giving them the perfect excuse to alter the narrative of a story and aim it directly at the Daily Mail readers of the world. I noticed genuine feminists where as upset with the trivialisation of the shirt story as the scientist guy was. Btw I watched the Sky at Night and it was fantastic, thanks for the reminder. I noticed he wore his shirt for that. M. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I have clearly missed this 'shirt' issues, but hey-ho! Glad they got some info out of the comet - we'll just wait and see what it means! Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I saw the shirt on Sky at Night too Mark. Awesome shirt I thought. I want one. There were even death threats directed at the poor guy I believe. Unfortunately when he looks back at this experience he will remember the death threats too Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I saw the shirt, not a big deal as far as I am concerned although maybe not the correct choice while in the limelight. Link to post Share on other sites
Christopher Low 63 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 What's this "shirtstorm" lark? What's that all about? Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 CW - start here http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/shirtstorm Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 What's this "shirtstorm" lark? What's that all about? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/11234620/Dr-Matt-Taylors-shirt-made-me-cry-too-with-rage-at-his-abusers.html Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 What's this "shirtstorm" lark? What's that all about? Some ESA guy on TV was wearing a shirt with a semi naked woman on it. It's a silly tail that everyone's getting hot under the collar about, I'm sure it was an off-the-cuff thing, best sleeve it at that. Sorry I can't give you any links. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 They weren't even semi-naked. Bathing costumes from what I could see. No big boobies on show... unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites
Christopher Low 63 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Wow, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill It probably wasn't the best shirt choice for an interview like that, but the reaction from some people was idiotic. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Trouble is, there are a plethora of individuals out there with agendas. They are just itching to get stuck in, in order to promote theagenda. They don't give a damn who they insult in the process. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 New data in. It seems the comet is composed of very hard ice, with a thin layer of dust. It has been suggested that it was probably a good thing that it landed under a cliff where the dust is thiner. Elsewhere the lander may have sunk. Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 More fom here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/philae-finds-hard-ice-and-organic-molecules The team of the SESAME experiment (Surface Electrical, Seismic and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment) can confirm that Churyumov-Gerasimenko is not nearly as soft and fluffy as it was believed to be. "The strength of the ice found under a layer of dust on the first landing site is surprisingly high," Ah, so it's not a 'dirty snowball', it's a Frozen 'dirty snowball'!!I await more exciting news with bated breath... Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 More news.Comet landing: UK team's data bonanza from PhilaeScientists say they detected what might be complex carbon compounds on the surface of the comet the craft landed on two weeks ago.The results are from the Ptolemy instrument, which is a miniaturised on-board laboratory.The detection of carbon supports a view that comets may have brought key chemicals to Earth to kick-start life.Now we have some data and it's: Wow! This is what scientists do this stuff for”Prof Ian WrightOpen UniversityThe team leader, Prof Ian Wright, told BBC News: "We can say with absolute certainty that we saw a very large signal of what are basically organic (carbon) compounds."There is a rich signal there. It is not simple. It is not like there are two compounds; there are clearly a lot of things there - a lot of peaks. Sometimes a complicated compound can give a lot of peaks."The "peaks" refer to the graph produced by the Ptolemy instrument of the different molecules it detected. The result is in line with initial observations made by a similar German-led instrument on Philae.In an exclusive interview with BBC News, Prof Wright explained that Ptolemy had gathered huge amounts of scientific data. Normally a quiet, understated man, he was marginally better at containing his enthusiasm than his co-worker and wife, Prof Monica Grady, who jumped for and then wept with joy and relief when Philae landed.Prof Wright told me: "I am as excited now as I was a couple of weeks ago. It's tremendous!"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30209533 Link to post Share on other sites
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