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ESA Cryosat Launch Reported Failure
hptux06 writes "Earlier today the ESA lauched their "Cryosat" satellite, designed to monitor ice levels across the Arctic/Antarctic. It's being reported a failure, disappearing 90 minutes after the launch. It cost £90M (160M US$) to build, and was supposed to spend three years determining the effects of global warming." From the article: "The satellite rode into space on a Rockot vehicle, a converted SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missile. The rocket, which in the Cold War would have been armed with nuclear weapons, had been modified for peaceful space duties with the addition of a Breeze-KM upper stage. Dr Matthias Oehm, chief executive officer of Eurockot, said they had not received the expected signals from either the spacecraft or the upper stage of the rocket that should have injected it into orbit. "
...they get a replacement up there won't be any ice left to study.
I used to have a better sig but it broke.
It was a waste of money anyway. Global Warming is a crock invented by anti-capitalist socialist marxist liberals to deter America's economic success and progress in the world.
I know it's off topic, but does anyone know why it's raining little bits of metal? I just raked the yard ...
Heard this story the other day, and it seemed appropriate.
Workmate was telling me about one of his professors, who got out of the Soviet Union. While he was still behind the iron curtain, he was a quality control officer for the ICBMs aimed at the US.
One day he was asked by one of his students what would have happened if the Soviet premier would have ordered a launch of these ICBMs.
He replied "Nothing, maybe a few explosions within the silos, but not much more."
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility that it was sabotaged by those with an interest in the continued used of fossil fuels."
I wouldn't rule out Romulan involvement.
"Derp de derp."
In unrelated news, the Pentagon announced that its much critisized anti-ballistic missile system has achieved its first successful test shootdown today. Whitehouse officials rejoiced at the success, heralding it as a sign that the interests of the United States are now even more secure. An unnamed Whitehouse employee and former oil company lobbyist said, "See, all those millions of dollars finally paid off!"
It's funny, laugh!
$160M for a satellite? For $10M, I'll go down to Antartica every few years and let them know how the melting is coming.
Hell, if they throw in another $5M or so, I'll take a torch and make damn sure they get the results they are expecting.
I'd rather you do it wrong, than for me to have to do it at all.