Starshine 3 is Toast

DeAshcroft writes "The Project Starshine page has the announcement that Starshine 3 reentered the atmosphere at 0540 hours UTC, Jan 21. They are asking anyone who saw the reentry to send their observations (and pictures). Starshine 3 carried 1500 mirrors, polished by students at 1000 schools in 30 countries, and came down about two years ahead of schedule because the sun has been making trouble. Starshine 4 and 5 are waiting for space on a shuttle (ahem), mid-2004 at the earliest."

Comments

Re-entry

[docbrown42]

Wouldn't re-entry polish those mirrors wven more?

Re:Re-entry

[Single GNU Theory]

Yes, but more in the informal sense of "polished off" than other definitions of polish.

We should support this kind of project

[lindsayt]

This is a very cool project, as it allows normal people to use classical measurement techniques to determine essential characteristics of the atmosphere and orbit, use readily-available equipment and (relatively) simple math. It makes science real for a whole group of people who might be bored by purely theoretical studies. I hope NASA , the ESA, or some other launch group can find time/space to hurl the next one up for them.

Re:Evidence we've been damaging the environment

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

I tried to mod this, but I couldn't find the "-1 OffHisRocker" option.

Re:Evidence we've been damaging the environment

[brianjcain]

You've got to be trolling me, right?

The sun doesn't normally double peak in its 11 year sunspot cycle but this time it has. This is an unusual event - sunspot activity should have died right down by now.

I continue to be amazed by quotes like this that something "usually" happens or doesn't. Meteorological data on this planet goes back a couple of hundred years at best. Astronomical/Solar data as to whether and when sunspots occur is probably similar. Whatever the case, the amount of data available is relatively miniscule. How can anyone find trends in such statistically insignificant amount of time?

... people ought to at least be considering the possibility that this, like global warming, and the ozone hole, is a result of man's harmful ongoing activities on Earth.

Now I know I've been trolled. Man bites Sun? C'mon, give me a break. In fact, the global warming hooey (have you been outside today?) is probably caused by inconsistent solar thermal output.

Re:Evidence we've been damaging the environment

[GigsVT]

If you paid attention, you would realize he was making fun of the global warming people.

Sure will make

[SteakandcheeseUm]

These people happy : Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie. This guy projected that the Government was using starshine to control your mind.