Editing 1740: Rosetta
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | On the day this comic was posted (September 30th 2016), the ''{{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}}'' mission ended with the final descent of ''Rosetta'' onto the comet {{w|67P}}. Landing Rosetta on the comet gave the scientists | + | On the day this comic was posted (September 30th 2016), the ''{{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}}'' mission ended with the final descent of ''Rosetta'' onto the comet {{w|67P}}. Landing Rosetta on the comet gave the scientists a chance to collect extra data from very close to the comet, using the spacecraft's powerful sensors. [[Cueball]] however assumed that the landing was a "{{w|Asteroid_impact_avoidance#Kinetic_impact|kinetic impact}}" mission to deflect a comet that was a collision course with Earth. A similar scenario (using a nuclear weapon implanted inside of the asteroid) was depicted in the 1998 film ''{{w|Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon}}'', of which Cueball is apparently a fan. |
− | + | In reality, at the time ''Rosetta'' landed, 67P was already leaving the inner solar system and was [http://sci.esa.int/where_is_rosetta/ a long way past Earth]. It will return to the inner solar system in around 5 years time, but its orbit is not expected to pose any threat to Earth any time soon. Plus, as the alt text hints, Rosetta's speed was only [https://astronomynow.com/2016/09/30/rosettas-final-hours/ 90 cm per second] relative to the surface at the moment of impact (or about 2 mph/3.25 km/h; the speed of a slow walk), while the comet was travelling at 14.39 km/s. Given that Rosetta only weighs a couple of tons (or [[1461: Payloads|six horses]]), and 67P weighs nearly 10 billion tons (or [[1461: Payloads| 22,200,624,370 horses]]), Rosetta's landing will have no actual measurable effect on the comet's momentum. | |
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− | In reality, at the time ''Rosetta'' landed, 67P was already leaving the inner solar system and was [http://sci.esa.int/where_is_rosetta/ a long way past Earth]. It will return to the inner solar system in around 5 years | ||
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''Rosetta'' (and its lander, ''Philae'') were previously the subject of the comics [[1402: Harpoons]] and [[1446: Landing]], and were mentioned in [[1461: Payloads]], [[1547: Solar System Questions]] and possibly [[1621: Fixion]]. | ''Rosetta'' (and its lander, ''Philae'') were previously the subject of the comics [[1402: Harpoons]] and [[1446: Landing]], and were mentioned in [[1461: Payloads]], [[1547: Solar System Questions]] and possibly [[1621: Fixion]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A control room | + | :[A control room: Megan and Hairy are at computers, Ponytail is directing, and Cueball is watching] |
:Megan: Signal lost. | :Megan: Signal lost. | ||
:Megan: ''Rosetta'' has impacted the comet. | :Megan: ''Rosetta'' has impacted the comet. | ||
:Ponytail: Good work everyone. | :Ponytail: Good work everyone. | ||
− | :Hairy: | + | :Hairy: Woooo! |
− | :[Zoom on Ponytail | + | :[Zoom on Ponytail and Cueball] |
:Cueball: So. | :Cueball: So. | ||
− | :Cueball: | + | :Cueball: You think we deflected it? |
− | :[Ponytail | + | :[Ponytail, Cueball and Hairy are now visible. Hairy looks away from his computer in surprise] |
:Ponytail: Huh? | :Ponytail: Huh? | ||
:Cueball: Did we hit the comet hard enough to deflect it away from Earth? | :Cueball: Did we hit the comet hard enough to deflect it away from Earth? | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Back to Ponytail and Cueball] |
:Ponytail: That... Is that what you thought we were doing? | :Ponytail: That... Is that what you thought we were doing? | ||
:Cueball: I just assumed... | :Cueball: I just assumed... | ||
− | :[Megan enters | + | :[Megan enters. Cueball has his arms up in celebration] |
:Megan: He's a huge ''Armageddon'' fan. Let him have this. | :Megan: He's a huge ''Armageddon'' fan. Let him have this. | ||
:Ponytail: Okay, fine. | :Ponytail: Okay, fine. | ||
:Ponytail: Yes! We did it! The Earth is saved! | :Ponytail: Yes! We did it! The Earth is saved! | ||
− | :Cueball: | + | :Cueball: Wooo! |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Space probes]] | [[Category:Space probes]] |