Rosetta: The ambition to turn science fiction into science fact (opens in new tab)

(esa.int)

92 pointshamdal11y ago18 comments

18 comments

I'm excited to see that ESA appears to be experimenting with various means to pull the broader public into their projects (like this video, or the super-neat cartoons tailored towards a younger audience: http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/07/RosettaAreWe...). Perhaps we can someday have another big set of space programs that enchant millions and drive young people to dream big; to become the engineers and scientists that we need so dearly. It is hard to grasp how much of an impact the Apollo program (and the paradoxically symbiotic competing Soviet programs) had on a solid two generations of not only Americans, but on people from all over the world.

readerrrr11y ago

It currently produces 1-5 liters of water vapor per second and gases include: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, methanol.

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/10/03/measuring-comet-67pc...

We could put a self sustaining base on it or on similar comets in the future.

lotsofmangos11y ago

Sounds like a good mix for trying to feed a Dyson tree.

humanfromearth11y ago

Also the surface temperature seems to be -68.15C (avg) - typical Syberia, only there is no atmosphere and sufficient gravity and magnetic field to protect from radiation.

Otherwise it's fine.

readerrrr11y ago

Sarcasm?

Nobody is going to walk on it naked. The conditions on the comet are amazing compared to the ISS, which is currently supporting life.

The comet has everything you need, water, organic material, shielding from radiation, decent size, raw material, energy.

2 more replies

ceejayoz11y ago

The short film is very much worth a watch, if folks are wondering.

readerrrr11y ago

Good visuals, but the script is nonsense. They are really trying to invoke that warm feeling inside. Unfortunately watching Littlefinger posing as a deity, forced me to laugh. Using an unknown actor would sell it better.

( I'm not trying to be mean, that was just the impression I got. )

_kst_11y ago

His character isn't a deity. I believe the background is that they're on an alien planet some time in the future and are just beginning to terraform it. They happen to be using "sufficiently advanced technology" (in the sense of Clarke's third law).

2 more replies

mattmanser11y ago

You obviously haven't watched The Wire yet then.

michgancodes11y ago

I'm very much looking forward to the lander doing its thing. The photos will be breathtaking!

fit2rule11y ago

Indeed, the mind bounds ahead with such endeavors approaching - what don't we just send a hundred micro-bots designed to harvest raw materials sufficiently well enough to construct on-sight new micro-bots, designed to harvest raw materials, and so on. Seems real easy, the more I think of it, to capture a comet and do something with it. Like, within the next 100 years or so, 'easy', that is - as in, well .. maybe getting easier and easier. Rockets and robots, babies, its all we'll need to get there and do stuff.

double0jimb011y ago

That was a damn fantastic watch. NASA take note.

Nux11y ago

Pretty darn awesome short film. Well done.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

18 comments

compute_me11y ago

readerrrr11y ago

It currently produces 1-5 liters of water vapor per second and gases include: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, methanol.

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/10/03/measuring-comet-67pc...

We could put a self sustaining base on it or on similar comets in the future.

lotsofmangos11y ago

Sounds like a good mix for trying to feed a Dyson tree.

humanfromearth11y ago

Also the surface temperature seems to be -68.15C (avg) - typical Syberia, only there is no atmosphere and sufficient gravity and magnetic field to protect from radiation.

Otherwise it's fine.

readerrrr11y ago

Sarcasm?

Nobody is going to walk on it naked. The conditions on the comet are amazing compared to the ISS, which is currently supporting life.

The comet has everything you need, water, organic material, shielding from radiation, decent size, raw material, energy.

2 more replies

ceejayoz11y ago

The short film is very much worth a watch, if folks are wondering.

readerrrr11y ago

( I'm not trying to be mean, that was just the impression I got. )

_kst_11y ago

2 more replies