Talk:1439: Rack Unit

2014-10-27T09:43:49Z

Belibem:

Bzzzzz [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.202|108.162.250.202]] 04:52, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

Air Bud has had multiple mentions in his comics, but I don't know all of them. I also think it was mentioned in one of the What-If's. I'll do a quick Google search to see if I can get at least one of them. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.161|108.162.237.161]] 06:55, 27 October 2014 (UTC)
:Mouse-over text in the final image. http://what-if.xkcd.com/111/ Still searching. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.161|108.162.237.161]] 06:58, 27 October 2014 (UTC)
:http://xkcd.com/115/ [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.161|108.162.237.161]] 07:00, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

This comic may be a reference to the highly hyped lack-rack https://wiki.eth0.nl/index.php/LackRack --[[User:Belibem|Belibem]] ([[User talk:Belibem|talk]]) 09:43, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

1438: Houston

2014-10-24T07:54:48Z

Belibem: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1438
| date = October 24, 2014
| title = Houston
| image = houston.png
| titletext = 'Oh, hey Mom. No, nothing important, just at work.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Apollo 13}} was intended to be the third manned landing on the moon. On its way there, however, during a routine stirring of the hydrogen and oxygen tanks, an explosion occurred that resulted in a frantic effort by {{w|Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center}} (located in Houston), that resulted in the safe return of all three astronauts. A memorable understatement was astronaut James Lovell's transmission to Mission Control: "Houston, we've had a problem".

These are the same events, except with much less help from Misson Control (and somewhat anachronistic technology). In reality, Mission Control had to figure out thousands of little problems that popped out due to the explosion, from how to get the astronauts back, to how the astronauts can jury-rig CO2 removal equipment (intended for the command module) to work with the lunar module (to which the astronauts had evacuated).

At first glance, this comic appears to be an "alternate reality" view at what might have happened next, had the Houston ground crew not been as vigilant as they were. It is meant to contrast history with Cueball's (lack of) action. It leaves implicit the consequences of this inaction, for greater shock. However, Cueball's desk has a flat screen monitor, which had not been invented at the time of Apollo 13, when the screen would have been a CRT. This may be an error by Randall or it may indicate that the comic is depicting what would have happened if the incident happened today.

It may also refer to the anemic support that the global community provides to West Africa that is struggling to curb the [[http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/ebola-study/en exponential growth of Ebola]].

==Transcript==
{{Incomplete|Name for capsule? Also, descriptions need work.}}
:[The lunar lander and module shown with debris near by in foreground, in space with the Earth in the background.]
:Lovell: Houston, we have a problem
:[Cueball sitting In front of two moniters wearing a headset.]
:Cueball: Cool.
:Lovell: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O2 tank and it exploded!
:Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring.
:[Capsule shown from a greater distance, with Earth beside it.]
:Lovell: ...Houston? Are you-
:Cueball: Listen, I've got another call.
:Cueball: Good luck landing your airplane or whatever.
: *click*

{{comic discussion}}

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Talk:1439: Rack Unit

1438: Houston