New Space Mission to Jupiter

[Eric Mc]

The latest European Space Agency space probe has been announced - JUICE. A mission to explore thoroughly the icy moons of Jupiter.



http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9I4QWJ1H_index_0.html

[Gwagon111]

It will be using fiber optic gyros, made with PM optical fibers, made by me. Lots of my work is winging it's way around the solar system at the moment .

[Eric Mc]

Great to hear.

What current spacecraft is your handiwork on?

[TheHeretic]

Eric Mc said:

Great to hear.

What current spacecraft is your handiwork on?

All the ones that go x amount of miles, and are never heard from again... Those are his!

[Eric Mc]

Not that many then.

[TheHeretic]

Eric Mc said:

Not that many then.

Well, rumors of you having a sense of humor are clearly wide of the mark.

[Eric Mc]

TheHeretic said:

Eric Mc said:

Not that many then.

Well, rumors of you having a sense of humor are clearly wide of the mark.

I can laugh at genuinely funny comments. If you ever make one I'll let you know.

[TheHeretic]

Like that is it? OK.

[Simpo Two]

Skimmed the article to see which moons they were visiting and they seem more interested in acronyms. Was halfway down the page before they actually said where the damn thing was going...

Couldn't we send someone like George Galloway with a mobile phone and if he gets there he can call back and say whether it's OK for life?

[Gwagon111]

Eric Mc said:

Great to hear.

What current spacecraft is your handiwork on?

Mars Odyssey, Mars express, Cassini, MER-A, MER-B, Rosetta, Pheonix, and Dawn, as we speak. A few more to follow.

[Eric Mc]

Must be quite thrilling to know something you made is sitting 1 billion miles away - and working.

Any space related work I make is sitting on a bookshelf three feet from me (I make models).

[andyroo]

Gwagon111 said:

Mars Odyssey, Mars express, Cassini, MER-A, MER-B, Rosetta, Pheonix, and Dawn, as we speak. A few more to follow.

That is so cool!

And you get to say, 'well, it's not rocket science - actually it is'

[Gwagon111]

Eric Mc said:

Must be quite thrilling to know something you made is sitting 1 billion miles away - and working.

Any space related work I make is sitting on a bookshelf three feet from me (I make models).

I've become used to it now, I've been doing this for close on 13 years. I've worked with some seriously bright people. Some of the technology programmes at NASA / ESA have to be seen to be believed.

[Eric Mc]

I have always been seriously impressed by space and rocket technology. Indeed, I am still impressed by Apollo, and some of that technology is well over half a century old now.

[Simpo Two]

Gwagon111 said:

I've become used to it now, I've been doing this for close on 13 years. I've worked with some seriously bright people. Some of the technology programmes at NASA / ESA have to be seen to be believed.

It's a pity we don't get more of this on the News, rather than the daily diet of tedious politicians bleating 'Yes you did'/'No I didn't'

[Eric Mc]

The news media thrives on negativity. Uplifting and positive stories are generally ignored - or twisted so that they become negative and depressing.

[ewenm]

Eric Mc said:

The news media thrives on negativity. Uplifting and positive stories are generally ignored - or twisted so that they become negative and depressing.

Any report on this would focus on the cost and potential for loss of contact with the equipment rather than the excitement and potential increase in knowledge.

[Eric Mc]

ewenm said:

Eric Mc said:

The news media thrives on negativity. Uplifting and positive stories are generally ignored - or twisted so that they become negative and depressing.

Any report on this would focus on the cost and potential for loss of contact with the equipment rather than the excitement and potential increase in knowledge.

Very true - although I have to say the report on BBC News yesterday was mainly positive.

[Hooli]

Bedazzled said:

I bet it will pick up a momentary obscure signal as it whizzes past Europa, and then absolutely nothing as it orbits dreary Ganymede ad infinitum.

[TheHeretic]

Hooli said:

Bedazzled said:

I bet it will pick up a momentary obscure signal as it whizzes past Europa, and then absolutely nothing as it orbits dreary Ganymede ad infinitum.

My God! It's full of PM optical filters!