Editing 1438: Houston
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | This comic presents a joke: a [[Cueball]] is at Mission Control, but is failing to help a spacecraft, and is, in fact, being rather unhelpful and completely ignoring them. This is contrary to how one would expect mission control to behave in the event of an explosion{{Citation needed}}. | |
− | + | Alternatively, this could be some type of commentary: | |
− | + | *Outsourcing of call centers reducing quality. | |
− | + | *Call centers ignoring critical calls. | |
+ | *Tech savvy people mocking those with limited technological comprehension. | ||
+ | *NASA's quality issues in recent decades, potentially due to funding cuts and direction shift. | ||
+ | *Someone named "Houston" at a call center picking the phone up. | ||
− | In the title text we learn that the call | + | On {{w|Apollo 13}}'s way to the Moon, during a routine stirring of one of the oxygen tanks, an explosion occurred that damaged the craft. Frantic efforts, by the {{w|Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center|mission control}} center located in Houston, resulted in the safe return of all astronauts. |
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+ | A similar situation is depicted in this strip including the design of the spacecraft, the nature of the problem, and the famous misquote "Houston, we have a problem". The modern type of monitor ({{w|Liquid-crystal display|flat panel LCD}}) in front of which Cueball sits suggests that the author is describing a more modern scenario. This time there is much less help from mission control. Upon receiving the message from the spacecraft, [[Cueball]] seems fairly indifferent. Instead of attempting to resolve the issue, he mocks the crew for not knowing how to stir and hangs up in favor of taking a call. | ||
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+ | In the title text we learn that the call was from Cueball's mother, which should be far less important than helping the crew return safely. He also tells her that he's doing "nothing important"—further driving home how little he cares about them. | ||
=== Apollo 13 === | === Apollo 13 === | ||
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Mission control worked diligently and tirelessly to solve numerous problems such as: | Mission control worked diligently and tirelessly to solve numerous problems such as: | ||
* If and how to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory. | * If and how to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory. | ||
− | * How to have the astronauts | + | * How to have the astronauts [https://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/jerry.html jerry-rig] CO<sub>2</sub> removal equipment intended for the command module to work with the lunar module (to which the astronauts had evacuated) using the equipment on board. |
* How to power the equipment back up within strict limitations. | * How to power the equipment back up within strict limitations. | ||
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:[We see a close-up of Cueball.] | :[We see a close-up of Cueball.] | ||
− | :Orbiter transmission: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O₂ tank and it | + | :Orbiter transmission: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O₂ tank and it exploded! |
:Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring. | :Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring. | ||