“After two decades in space, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is nearing the end of its remarkable journey of exploration.
Having expended almost every bit of the rocket propellant it carried to Saturn, operators are deliberately plunging Cassini into the planet to ensure Saturn’s moons will remain pristine for future exploration.”
“The Cassini mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency [sic!], what would it be otherwise? European Deep Soul Society and Agency) and the Italian Space Agency.*”
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena…”
Picture: “This image of Saturn’s rings was taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on Sept. 13, 2017. It is among the last images Cassini sent back to Earth.”
So, they year is: 2017/09/15? I was sure we would have reached the stars by now. We don’t even have working AI? I am deeply disappointed. The other “believers” en masse? No space ships? Not even an intelligent machine by now?
And either your contribution is “landing” a spacecraft on Saturn after 20 years in space or your “contribution” is manifested at a Tube station in London in rush hour? Seems like a discrepancy to me. A choice as far as I can tell…
Then, “Avbryt” = cancel the latter… and for God’s sake pull yourself together.
*I don’t know that for a fact, but it seems strange that the Italian Space Agency is not a part of the ESA? Given the rest it is probably true.
Pictures of other planets? It fills me with Awe, I do believe it is the (English) word. It is a picture from Saturn.
No, I don’t think you understand. The picture is actually from another planet in our solar system. This is a picture from Saturn. It is not a digital rendering. It is an actual picture of another planet.
– It doesn’t look anything like a cat?
No, I guess it doesn’t, simply because it is a feature of a planet called Saturn?
– Why are there no cats or people falling over in this boring (still) picture?
It is a picture of a neighbouring planet in our solar system and we have visited it, explored it and taken photographs of it!
– I still can’t see any cats or people hurting themselves?
…
The beauty of this picture is overwhelming and incomprehensible to me. How is that even possible? In space?
So, exactly how many things do you personally own that have lasted 20 years or more? Think hard now. Then answer me this, how many of your belongings have spent any time in space?