Genesis Launches

sgups writes: "An article in the Toronto Star says NASA was finally able to launch its robotic explorer named Genesis to gather and return tiny particles of the sun after being delayed for 9 days. The samples will be returned sometime in 2004. It will gather atoms from solar winds at a point about 148 million kms from the sun and these would be the first time extra terrestrial samples will be returned since Apollo 17's moonwalkers brought back one last bundle of lunar rocks in December 1972."

Comments

Re:Doh.. I wish this story were about Trek

[Big Brass Balls]

Actually, my first thought was, "Wow, are we living out Star Trek or what?"

Re:Doh.. I wish this story were about Sega

[Scottarius]

i'm with ya, yo!

Re:Enough mention Apollo??

[mordorian]

One use that came to my mind is determining the age of the sun by analyzing the proportions of elements in the solar wind, but they can do that now with spectrum analysis.

Doh.. I wish this story were about Sega

[billcopc]

When I read "Genesis Launches" I immediately recalled fond memories of the old 16-bit console that still holds all my favorite RPG's.

I wish.

Re:Enough mention Apollo??

[cpl almost]

They expect to obtain milligrams of matter from space. Which is quite alot, enough to do a wide array of chemistry/ physics studies. One researcher mentioned that it would be enough material to study for 100 years, complete BS.

If I recall correctly they want to use it learn about the "birth" of stars. I think there is other interest, at least to me, in knowing what is in otherwise empty space.

Enough mention Apollo??

[mordorian]

Any body else find it odd that, they mentioned this being the first mission returning samples since the Apollo moon mission, three times..

Anyway, does anybody know what kind of research they intend to do when they get these samples?

Re:Enough mention Apollo??

[DahGhostfacedFiddlah]

Anyway, does anybody know what kind of research they intend to do when they get these samples?

The desired solar atoms, if all piled up, will be equivalent to perhaps 10 grains of salt.

Obviously they're looking for exotic food garnishing of some sort...

And now that I think about it, if it's "equivalent" to 10 grains of salt, why bother going up there in the first place?

Old technology

[Nick Number]

Hey this is nothing new. There's a great documentary on the Genesis device from way back in 1982.

It's supposed to be used on planets though, not the sun.

Wasn't this a reprint?

[Leven Valera]

I thought Genesis was the first book of the Bible. You know, that one about the Big Blue Room and the SysAdmin?