Difference between revisions of "Talk:2262: Parker Solar Probe"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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(Observation and question.)
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The orbit GIF moves a little too quickly to see clearly (and might not be fully accurate), but there seem to be some close calls between PSP and Venus, and PSP and Mercury. [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 00:24, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
 
The orbit GIF moves a little too quickly to see clearly (and might not be fully accurate), but there seem to be some close calls between PSP and Venus, and PSP and Mercury. [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 00:24, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
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:That is correct and intentional. The probe is using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_assist Gravity Assists] to slow down. As a result, the close flyby with Mercury and Venus are all essential parts of going to the Sun. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.148|172.68.141.148]] 01:39, 2 February 2020 (UTC)

Revision as of 01:39, 2 February 2020


I thought "down" meant towards the center of the Earth. Apparently I was wrong. 162.158.214.148 23:17, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

Our usual understanding of "down" means "towards the center of the Earth", here Randall is using it as "towards the center of the Sun". If you think about it, down means "towards the pull of gravity", Randall is just changing the gravity source he's referencing. :) NiceGuy1 (talk) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

I think the reference frame used here is a reference to "the enemy's gate is down" from Ender's Game, which is a book that the comic references often. 172.69.69.238 23:57, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

No, see my above comment. :) NiceGuy1 (talk) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

Cueball and Megan standing on Earth remind me of the illustrations from The Little Prince. Barmar (talk) 00:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

Whether or not the use is 'official', I can't help feeling that describing it as a "robotic" probe gives a different impression to some other term such as "(semi-?)autonomous". At the moment it makes me think of VINCENT from The Black Hole (*surely it can't be too long before the Disney trend to re-release "Live Action" remakes of its old features starts to include this, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Blackbeard's Ghost and Herbie Goes Bananas - jus' sayin' in passin'...) or Huey/Louie/Dewey from The Valley Forge. But I must check to see how much actuator use it has, other than for once-only 'deployment' like unfolding of solar panels/shielding. 162.158.154.241 16:44, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

The orbit GIF moves a little too quickly to see clearly (and might not be fully accurate), but there seem to be some close calls between PSP and Venus, and PSP and Mercury. These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For (talk) 00:24, 2 February 2020 (UTC)

That is correct and intentional. The probe is using Gravity Assists to slow down. As a result, the close flyby with Mercury and Venus are all essential parts of going to the Sun. 172.68.141.148 01:39, 2 February 2020 (UTC)