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Write Your Valentine On a Spacecraft

GingerSnaps writes "Looking for something more fun and less predictable than roses and chocolates this Valentine's Day? Write your love on the side of a satellite. This unusual approach to courting comes courtesy of students at MIT and Georgia Tech, as part of a larger initiative to pay for their research spacecraft, the Mars Gravity Biosatellite. For a tax-deductible donation anyone can post a picture or message of choice on the spacecraft. All donations help the students pay for the development and construction of their Earth-orbiting satellite, to be launched in 2010. The data gathered will be critical to preparing for human missions to Mars and beyond."

26 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Ah, romance by The+Zon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing says "I love you" like etching your girlfriend's name onto a cold metal construct and shooting it into the black oblivion of space.

    --
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    1. Re:Ah, romance by gardyloo · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's why I only go out with girls with names like NASA and Martin-Marietta.

    2. Re:Ah, romance by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Which is more romantic? a) Carving your name on a tree; or b) Writing your name on the side of a spaceship?"
      Ummm.. I think you forgot "c) Writing her name on a tree."
      Oh wait.... this is ./
      never mind....
      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.
    3. Re:Ah, romance by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 5, Funny

      It definitely shows you're more caring than if you gave flowers. Especially if she's one of those ultra sensitive types who think plants have feelings.

      I know if I were a flowering plant, I'd be all like "Go with the spaceship idea, it's gold! Seriously, she'll love it! No!! Put the secateurs away. No, not that! AAAAARRRRGH!!!!! Aaaawww, did you have to hang a card from it?

      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.
    4. Re:Ah, romance by c_forq · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh wait.... this is ./

      I see this all the time, but I still don't get how people would ever forget they're on slashdot. I mean if they look around they are either at work or in the basement, either way there is at least one window with at least one tab opened to slashdot. I guess it is possible someone might wander to other sites on the internet, but if they do that than what is next - wandering out of the basement!?!?

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    5. Re:Ah, romance by syousef · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nothing says "I love you" like etching your girlfriend's name onto a cold metal construct and shooting it into the black oblivion of space. ...especially if you use her credit card to pay for it.

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    6. Re:Ah, romance by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 4, Funny

      Except in one case you're scribbling on steel, in the other case YOU'RE TEARING THE SEXUAL ORGANS OFF A LIVING THING AND GIVING THEM AS A GIFT!!!

      -Imagine if the tables were turned-

      Cabbage 1: Happy Valentines Day darling!

      Cabbage 2: Oh Raoul, this human penis smells delightful!

      ...with sincerest apologies to anyone for whom Valentines Day is now ruined...

      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.
  2. Poetic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My love for thee burns like the flames of re-entry

    1. Re:Poetic... by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...or it might just be herpes.

  3. Obligatory Joke by OctoberSky · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The people who are willing to give their girlfriends the "gift" of writing their names on the sides of spacecraft..... aren't usually the type of people that have girlfriends.

    1. Re:Obligatory Joke by GFree · · Score: 5, Funny

      No matter. You'll just end up with a satellite full of "I Luv Linux!" and ponies on the side.

    2. Re:Obligatory Joke by gardyloo · · Score: 4, Funny

      OMG --- PONIES!!!!

    3. Re:Obligatory Joke by Atomic6 · · Score: 4, Funny

      That was a perfect opportunity to make a reference to Virgin Galactic if I ever saw one.

      --
      "We have exactly as much freedom as we are willing to demand and as we can defend."
  4. Who are we sending up in it? by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mike or Joel?

  5. At Least From the /. Contingency... by Miseph · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The number one most popular message: "i 3 righty"

    Number two: "fsck me tubgirl"

    --
    Try not to take me more seriously than I take myself.
    1. Re:At Least From the /. Contingency... by mrchaotica · · Score: 2, Informative

      &lt; == "<"

      HTML entities -- learn them, love them, use them.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  6. On? Oh, not 'From'... by WobindWonderdog · · Score: 2, Funny

    Meh misread the title of the article... "To my one and only love. For Valentines, I've decided to get as far as humanly possible from you..."

  7. Re:Ah, "wish you were here" by mnemotronic · · Score: 5, Funny
    Gee, now that my marriage is going down the tubes, what can I say that will express what I'm truely feeling for my soon-to-be-ex? What heartfelt emotion can I enscribe on the side of a chunk of metal headed for deep space that conveys how I feel? What trite, candy-heart message would I use?

    • Wish you were here.
    • Be someone else's.
    • Never did love you.
    • If you can read this, I'm happy.
    • You got my cars, my house, my bank accounts, my 401k, and my cat. But I got a crayon.
    • The sex was really bad.
    • Be my hero. Kill your lawyer.
    • h8u2
    --
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  8. Right. by DancesWithBlowTorch · · Score: 3, Funny

    "The data gathered will be critical to preparing for human missions to Mars and beyond."
    So the success of America's historic step towards the planets rests on the shoulders of a bunch of MIT undergrads? I didn't know it was that bad.
  9. Re:In Japan... by Edis+Krad · · Score: 2, Informative

    True. But men have to return the favor a month later on White Day, March 14th ;)

  10. Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Whats Valentine ? I've been on Slashdot for 5 years and I've never heard about it. Does it run Linux ?

  11. IAMAMM by iamacat · · Score: 2, Informative

    And I assure you that a girl would like a dozen of long stem roses way more than a message on the side of a spacecraft

  12. Yep, got a box today... by patio11 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... unfortunately, from the married 40 year old, not the cute single 24 year old ("giri choco" = chocolate given out of social obligation, not from an expression of personal interest). I'm now socially obligated to get her something white about a month from now.

  13. It's a trap! by jacobw · · Score: 3, Funny

    You fools! Don't you see what's happening?

    1. The MIT team is raising money for a satellite that will go to Mars.

    2. They are getting people to give them the names of their Valentine's to put on the side of another satellite.

    3. People who would pay for something like this are geeks; geeks are mostly males; and most males are attracted to women.

    4. Ergo, a team of scientists with STRONG MARTIAN CONNECTIONS is collecting the names of hundreds--maybe even thousands--of EARTH WOMEN.

    That's right-- MIT IS HELPING MARTIANS STEAL EARTH WOMEN!

    (Don't believe me? Here's photographic proof.

  14. Re:In Japan... by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

    True. But those women are also all pixelated where it counts. That just doesn't do it for me.

  15. Re:spacecraft? by Fred_A · · Score: 2, Funny

    What is it called if there's only logic boards inside it then ? Space projectile ?

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