Why they are rocket scientists and we aren't

from Elemental Forums

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/mysteriousasteroidunmaskedbyspaceprobeflyby

Highlights

The asteroid flyby was actually a pit stop for Rosetta, which continued on toward its main target – comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

The spacecraft launched in 2004 and is expected to arrive at the comet in 2014. Rosetta also visited a different space rock, the asteroid Steins, in 2008.

The accuracy involved in the calculations is staggering to my small mind. Not a robot to mars, a pinball on 3 relatively small space objects at speeds my mind has a hard time grasping. While I am sure they make adjustments, a ten year flight at incredible intersecting speeds.  Wow.

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28,724 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yup....it's called math....and boy, are those computers fast at doin' it! Not to detract from the human element, but apart from perhaps savants, no person's calculations could be trusted.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

True, but someone had to program it. Computers didn't stop the US blowing metric-imperial units to literally blow up a martian probe.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/

While computers are incredible at calculation, they aren't so good at "Do the dishes" although programmers are getting them closer these days.

As to the old days, those guys are even more amazing.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yeah...math was really helpful when they crashed one of those probes into a planet. Let's see now...20 million (new probe)  :rofl: - 20 million (crashed probe)  8O = 20 million land dart :(O ...back to the drawing board! ;P Damn!...I was off by this much! XO :grin:

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Double post! X|

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

  Why they are rocket scientists and we aren't

You mean you aren't. Don't include everyone in your 'we'... ;p

True, but someone had to program it. Computers didn't stop the US blowing metric-imperial units to literally blow up a martian probe.

I imagine the people involved were suitably embarrassed. It's not everyday you get to chuck $125 million down the toilet...

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Fuzzy, reply 7

  Why they are rocket scientists and we aren't


You mean you aren't. Don't include everyone in your 'we'...

touche my friend, touche!

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Blaze, reply 3
True, but someone had to program it.

Er, wait a minute, who programed Mrs. Johnson again? I imagine in addition to being a fast computer, she also could (if she wanted to) wash the dishes.