Rosetta: The ambition to turn science fiction into science fact

compute_me 11 years ago |

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.

readerrrr 11 years 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.

lotsofmangos 11 years ago | |

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

humanfromearth 11 years 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.

readerrrr 11 years 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.

yongjik 11 years ago | | |

That "magnetic field to protect from radiation" part is pretty important, though. (ISS is inside the Earth's magnetic field.)

readerrrr 11 years ago | | |

All you need is a couple of meters of water or earth. The base would be inside the comet at complete safety anyway, and detection can warn you to get inside in case of increased sun activity.

It is really easy if you have just a little material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_protection#Shielding

alex_duf 11 years ago | | |

I think the way it spins would be a problem to bring humans on it.

ceejayoz 11 years ago |

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

readerrrr 11 years 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_ 11 years 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).

mortenjorck 11 years ago | | |

Exactly. I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s intended to be read.

For what it’s worth, I thought the dialog was excellently written. A scene like that more or less invites overwrought, ham-fisted lines but the writers exercised some remarkable restraint (and Gillen and the newcomer match it with their deliveries).

readerrrr 11 years ago | | |

That makes more sense. The nano-bots indicate that at the start and I missed it. Still the dialogue is just so cliche, including a forced mini twist ending.

And:

Wwaathhheeer

mattmanser 11 years ago | | |

You obviously haven't watched The Wire yet then.

michgancodes 11 years ago |

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

fit2rule 11 years 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.

double0jimb0 11 years ago |

That was a damn fantastic watch. NASA take note.

Nux 11 years ago |

Pretty darn awesome short film. Well done.