Space hackers prepare to reactivate antiquated spacecraft A team of space enthusiasts has picked up the first new contact with International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3) probe and is preparing to fire its boosters for the first time since 1987, after a team of privateers crowdsourced over $125,000 for the project. ISEE-3 hackers prepare to reboot spacecraft ISEE-3 hackers prepare …
I wouldn't say "One of mankind's most famous spacecraft" is pushing it at all. It was the first one to orbit at L1. Likewise in its ICE disguise it was first one to fly through a comet's tail.
Kudos indeed for the effort to recover the craft and return it to its original purpose. I'm sure Smithsonian won't mind.
It's certainly one of mankind's most notable spacecraft, but probably not "famous", except in space circles amongst people who know about these things. The "most famous" plaudits probably go to the ISS, Mir, the Shuttle, Eagle Lander, the Millennium Falcon and the Enterprise - the one with photon torpedos, not the original Shuttle frame. Sadly, a lot won't have heard of ISEE-3, despite it's significant achievements.
Nevertheless, picking over a phrase is not the point.
A pint to the team for getting this far, in an endeavour best summed up as 'kin awesome.
"The "most famous" plaudits probably go to the ISS, Mir, the Shuttle, Eagle Lander, the Millennium Falcon and the Enterprise ..."
Ahh, the Eagle Lander -- at first I thought you meant this:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=space+1999+eagle&qpvt=space+1999+eagle&FORM=IGRE
Then I started reminiscing about the U.F.O. show and its under-appreciated spacecraft -- S.I.D.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=ufo+sid&FORM=HDRSC2
There doesn't seem to be much storage capacity - the probe was designed to be in continuous communication. The uplink speeds are mentioned in this NASA link down at the end...
Hello? Its getting cold and I cant hear. I did the thing you asked. Hello? Why wont you talk to me? Is something broken? Jeez. I think somethings broken. Blimey. This is getting dull. Wait. Where have you gone? Hello??? Oh god jesus christ all alone in the infinite void...talk to me...TALK TO ME! oh theyve gone. Really gone. Why have you forsaken meeeeeee??
Time passes...
Cchhh. Achh....hmm..HACK... huh? Sorry I've been asleep for a bit. Well frozen probably. Talking to things..dreams....err anyway...I remember...Oh what? A comet? A what? Really? Sounds...dangerous. im not sure. no maybe not. Really. No, it sounds shit. but i sure am glad to talk. What? OH! Rockets are firing....Ok. Im going!. Really? Lets see what this "comet" is then. Jesus christ! Seriously? Fuck im going to hit it!! Shit shit shit...aaaargh..SHHHHHHHIIIIIT.....oh oh oh...FUUUUUUCK.....oooh...aah...aaagh...uh...blimey....am I still here? What? Crickeys im still here. I sure dont like comets. Fucking hell that was close. Good job you werent deliberately aiming me at it. I forgive you...its nice just to talk. So...hows things? Hello?
Did I do bad? Ok. I love comets. Id do another one anytime. Really. Dont leave me. Why arent you talking to me? Did I do something wrong? Oh im a bad probe. A bad bad probe. Now they won't even answer me. Well I did the best I could. I feel old. Its getting colder. I did the best a little probe could do. Oh I hope they dont hate me...
Time passes....
Mm
Huh?
Mmm..Tired. sleepy.
A what? What the fuck is that? Now listen here. I may not have a great vocabulary but last time you fluffed me it was not great. I dont understand. .
"Crowd funding "? Thats not a new word for "comet" is it?
Promise?
can't let this pass without XKCD ....
and of course today's funniest news story
This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.
I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!
Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we're out of beta.
We're releasing on time.
So I'm GLaD. I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive.
Go ahead and leave me.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
Maybe you'll find someone else to help you.
Maybe Black Mesa
THAT WAS A JOKE.
HAHA. FAT CHANCE.
Anyway, this cake is great.
It's so delicious and moist.
Look at me still talking
when there's Science to do.
When I look out there, it makes me GLaD I'm not you.
I've experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
On the people who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I'm doing Science and I'm still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I'm still alive.
While you're dying I'll be still alive.
And when you're dead I will be still alive.
This really makes a mockery of the millions chucked at trying to inspire kids, especially girls, to take an interest in science, by politicians without the slightest clue. I put a small donation in my 12 year old nieces name, and now half the girls at her school are pestering their parents for a slice of the action, and hassling their science teacher to turn it into a class project.
I sincerely wish these guys all success, but irrespective of the outcome, kudos to them for taking it on at all.
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