ESA to Send Spacecraft to Venus

teeto writes to tell us The International Herald Tribune is reporting that the European Space Agency is planning to send a spacecraft to peer at Venus." From the article: "If the robot craft pulls off the complex maneuver of slowing down enough to swing into orbit, scientists hope it will help solve the mystery of how the shrouded, churning atmosphere of Venus formed and how it maintains the planet's broiler-like temperatures."

Comments

Kim Stanley Robinson needs a few science courses

[HornWumpus]

As well as an education on human nature and the nature of society.

You would think before taking on a semi-hard science fiction story set in the near future he would have actually thought to talk to an engineer. Just one. None of his characters would live a day in the woods, much less on mars.

I can suspend my disbelief about most any premise for a story But:

A mars colony that was recruited from the parking lot at a 'Gratefull Dead' show (4+ hours after the show ended)?
A mars colony built with robotic equipment sent from earth, plus for bonus, an orbital teather (10^12 dollars or more before I put the book down)?
A frontier society that finally 'gets it together' and makes socialism work dispite evil capitalists (they want something for their 10^12 dollars)?
The capitalists bothering to take down the teather (why bother, hippies would be eating each other in six months)?

Off topic I know. Those books really really stink. Goodby karma as his fans mod me down.