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4:47:00 PM EDT
Hearing Sunday's Coming On -- Marc Teamaker
Space Notes
A wild day for space enthusiasts. I want to know what you think about:
1. The report on the Columbia disaster. This thing basically takes a paddle to NASA: "NASA's organizational culture had as much to do with this accident as foam did." (Want to see the actual report? It's here.)
This is painful. I'm an unashamed space geek and reflexively pro-NASA, and beyond that it's always difficult to believe that so many people with such big, meaty brains could make so many stupid errors. But we've lost two shuttles in something like 100 missions. That's an exceptionally bad ratio.
2. The Catholic Church is trying to change the common view (among scientists and science enthusiasts) that it roughed up Galileo to get him to renounce the idea the Earth revolved around the sun, instead of the other way around. This attempt is due to recovered papers that suggest Galileo was treated rather well:
The letter, sent by the Commissioner of the Holy Office to Cardinal Francesco Barberini in 1633, expressed the pope's concern that the trial of the scientist accused of heresy be concluded quickly as his health was poor.
Of course, he was still tried for heresy, so as a practical matter for science the outcome is outchanged. But I'd be happy to know there were no thumbscrews involved. And it is absolutely worth noting that a decade ago, the pope admitted the Church erred in condemning Galileo. It's one of those "better late then never" things.
3. No, the "close encounter" with Mars won't kill you. This is giggle-worthy. I remember when I was a teenager there was supposed to be this "convergence" thing in which all the planets lined up and either a new age of peace was going to happen, or we'd all get swallowed by lava or something like that. I didn't see why it couldn't be both: Things would be mighty peaceful after the lava turned all of humanity into briquets. But isn't that just like me to be morbid.
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Sorry. What went wrong? - The day when men were to walk on Mars, is what I wrote. Serrill
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In the past century, in science fiction stories by the hundreds, this was to be the big day. The shortest distance meant the shortest travel time and cost: The time when men would walk on Mars.
Ted Serrill -
that "convergence" sounds as much like a myth as Steve Case's "convergence" ;-)
8/26/03 9:41 PM