Update:
What is this quote from? (no google-peeking)
When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six, I did.
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YEARS after launch, it is almost time…
December 7, 2010
One Hundred Days until Mercury Orbit InsertionOne hundred days from now, MESSENGER will execute a 15-minute maneuver that will place the spacecraft into orbit about Mercury, making it the first craft ever to do so, and initiating a one-year science campaign to understand the innermost planet. It has already been 14 years since this mission was first proposed to NASA, more than 10 years since the project officially began, and over six years since the spacecraft was launched. – JHU’s MESSENGER Website
So it’s been traveling since August 3, 2004 and now finally, in 2010 it’s only 100 days away. At this time… 4.7 BILLION miles. That’s a long ways without bathroom breaks.
Just the astrophysicist’s work in plotting the course that has been so dead-nuts on that he’s gotten awards for it is amazing, but the whole darned thing is cool. It won’t be cool while it’s in a polar orbit around Mercury for a year, though. It’ll be hot. Damned hot.
That is way cool.
What a fantastic achievement!! Everyone involved deserves a hearty CONGRATULATIONS, and kudos for a job well done!!!
Okay, I have to be honest and admit I cheated and googled the quote about staring into the sun.
Don’t worry, I will say nothing here about it in any way.
I looked it up because I hadn’t a clue about its source. I know I’ve never read it or seen it or heard it before.
Now that I know the source, I’m going to have to find it.
Thanks LK, one more thing on the list of items I need to read or watch or listen to, by the end of the year if possible.
It is not the best movie ever but it was still interesting. I liked “Primer” better.
I had to look it up too, I haven’t seen that one. Say, don’t you have a chunk of equipment on that bird?
Yup! But if it doesn’t work I’ll quietly delete posts and strike that year from my resume. I’ll tell them I was homeless or a male prostitute – something less embarrassing.
Hell, so much for me being discreet in my congratulatory remarks….
Oh don’t worry about it. No one reads this blog anyway. 🙂
Well don’t I feel like a jerk. Congrats, LK! I forgot you worked on that baby!
If you’re like me, when something you designed finally goes active (or gets used, or is made public), you feel pretty damned good – and deservedly so.
I know that the missions ultimate success will be – in part – due to your efforts! Thank you!
Very small cog in a very big machine, ‘Goo. But it was a blast to work on. +/- 15kV in a pop can and loaf-of-bread sized unit was a challenge. Of course I don’t believe in electrons so that helped.
Movie: PI. See it. O/t see Brazil.