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Science Section => Science General Discussion => Physics & Cosmology => Topic started by: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 07:50:07 AM

Title: Cassini's final moments
Post by: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 07:50:07 AM
The joint NASA ESA probe Cassini is gone. One of the most successful probes ever launched into space has entered the atmosphere of Saturn and been destroyed. The last bits of data from the probe are inside the orbit of Mars headed our way as I type this.

NASA TV is streaming the mission coverage if anyone is interested.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 08:00:41 AM
Loss of signal was within seconds of what ground control was expecting. The spacecraft entered the atmosphere of Saturn at around 77,000 mph. It is simply amazing how well they were able to predict how long it would last. 
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 15, 2017, 08:13:19 AM
The ESA will have to carry on without NASA in the future, I think. They're up to the task.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 08:25:51 AM
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 15, 2017, 08:13:19 AM
The ESA will have to carry on without NASA in the future, I think. They're up to the task.

Meh. I don't think NASA is going anywhere anytime soon. What we are liable to lose under the current administration is Earth observation, but I have high hopes for deep space programs. The James Webb Space Telescope for one should be spectacular if they can get it into orbit in working order.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 15, 2017, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 08:25:51 AM
Meh. I don't think NASA is going anywhere anytime soon. What we are liable to lose under the current administration is Earth observation, but I have high hopes for deep space programs. The James Webb Space Telescope for one should be spectacular if they can get it into orbit in working order.
You give T.rump more sanity than he actually has, I think. America's Clown Prince is all bluff and bluster.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 10:56:22 AM
Not really, but the congressional critters that control NASA's purse strings want NASA out of the climate change business. With the orange baboon in the oval office that becomes more likely than it would have been with a Democrat in that seat.

On an interesting side note, even some of the congressional Republicans from NASA states like Texas and Florida are voicing opposition to Trump's nominee for NASA administrator.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 15, 2017, 11:23:06 AM
I worry about ANY science progress during a Grim Old Party administration. But that's just because I've seen so many of them. Senator Proxmire's "Golden Fleece Awards" are archetypal.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: trdsf on September 15, 2017, 04:59:51 PM
Quote from: PopeyesPappy on September 15, 2017, 10:56:22 AM
Not really, but the congressional critters that control NASA's purse strings want NASA out of the climate change business. With the orange baboon in the oval office that becomes more likely than it would have been with a Democrat in that seat.

On an interesting side note, even some of the congressional Republicans from NASA states like Texas and Florida are voicing opposition to Trump's nominee for NASA administrator.
Well, here's The Planetary Society's take on him (http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2017/20170901-bridenstine-nominated.html).  He's for returning to the Moon and going to Mars, and he rather bizarrely loves weather satellites but is a climate change denier.  He also thinks we can just walk away from our responsibility with regard to orbital debris and wait for a private sector solution.  He seems to favor a joint public-private approach to space.

Both Florida senators oppose him, however, for reasons I haven't seen clarified anywhere, beyond them being uncomfortable with a politician being put in charge rather than an administrator.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 15, 2017, 05:05:26 PM
Quote from: trdsf on September 15, 2017, 04:59:51 PM
Well, here's The Planetary Society's take on him (http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2017/20170901-bridenstine-nominated.html).  He's for returning to the Moon and going to Mars, and he rather bizarrely loves weather satellites but is a climate change denier.  He also thinks we can just walk away from our responsibility with regard to orbital debris and wait for a private sector solution.  He seems to favor a joint public-private approach to space.

Both Florida senators oppose him, however, for reasons I haven't seen clarified anywhere, beyond them being uncomfortable with a politician being put in charge rather than an administrator.
I bet Texas and Florida are refusing federal aid while waiting for the private sector to step and be the good guys for once.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 04:05:15 AM
Rest in atoms, Cassini...
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 04:19:10 AM
There is no denial about the climate change. It is changing all the time.

The question is whether it is a natural occurrence as it happened periodically for eons, (sun activity, orbital deviance, the tilt of the planet, etc.) or is it man-made.









Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 04:53:53 AM
Quote from: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 04:19:10 AM
There is no denial about the climate change. It is changing all the time.

The question is whether it is a natural occurrence as it happened periodically for eons, (sun activity, orbital deviance, the tilt of the planet, etc.) or is it man-made.
And no natural pattern fits the climate change.  The direct correlation is that fossil fuel burning matches the climate change. 
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 05:22:04 AM
Will we stop burning fossil fuel?
Absolutely. When none left to burn. Until then...
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 05:22:52 AM
Quote from: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 05:22:04 AM
Will we stop burning fossil fuel?
Absolutely. When none left to burn. Until then...

After then, what?
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 05:46:14 AM
Well, nuclear energy. All other forms of energy will not be enough to power the world’s need.
Wind, wave, solar, bio fuel is not really enough.
They will have to work on it.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 05:50:12 AM
Quote from: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 05:46:14 AM
Well, nuclear energy. All other forms of energy will not be enough to power the world’s need.
Wind, wave, solar, bio fuel is not really enough.
They will have to work on it.

Nuclear works for me.  But I like wind and solar.  Bio is a trick.  I used to like that thinking they were using the corn STALKS after the corn was harvested until I learned it was the ears they were using.  Food for fuel is not the best idea when people are starving.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 19, 2017, 06:50:19 AM
Quote from: pr126 on September 19, 2017, 04:19:10 AM
There is no denial about the climate change. It is changing all the time.

The question is whether it is a natural occurrence as it happened periodically for eons, (sun activity, orbital deviance, the tilt of the planet, etc.) or is it man-made.










The hard right is worried about AGW because it might cost them money. Therefore it doesn't exist.

Sound scientific thinking in action.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 06:59:23 AM
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 19, 2017, 06:50:19 AM
The hard right is worried about AGW because it might cost them money. Therefore it doesn't exist.

Sound scientific thinking in action.

AGW?
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Sal1981 on September 19, 2017, 08:36:56 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4897252/Cassini-s-final-image-Saturn-s-yin-yang-moon.html
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 10:08:22 AM
Quote from: Sal1981 on September 19, 2017, 08:36:56 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4897252/Cassini-s-final-image-Saturn-s-yin-yang-moon.html

It was sad to see it go, but I understand why.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on September 19, 2017, 01:39:48 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 06:59:23 AM
AGW?
Anthropogenic Global Warming. If it's man-made then we can at least try to correct, but it will cost money, and the hard right is nothing if not selfish.
Title: Re: Cassini's final moments
Post by: Cavebear on September 19, 2017, 02:32:44 PM
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on September 19, 2017, 01:39:48 PM
Anthropogenic Global Warming. If it's man-made then we can at least try to correct, but it will cost money, and the hard right is nothing if not selfish.

Thanks. I guess I just assumed the Anthropomorphic without getting the A.  Got the Global Warming...