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Cassini Geyser-Tasting a Bust

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the techno-ageusia dept.

Maggie McKee writes "The Cassini spacecraft flew into the icy geysers erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus on Wednesday in an attempt to figure out what they were made of, but a glitch prevented the probe from actually 'tasting' the plumes. An 'unexplained software hiccup' put the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) out of commission. Ironically, new software designed to improve the ability of the CDA to count particle hits may be to blame. Mission managers may try to re-attempt the plume fly-through later this year."

11 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. We all know what this means by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Funny

    There were alien bacteria in the ice samples, and NASA is covering it up by claiming that the probe didn't work.

    1. Re:We all know what this means by confused+one · · Score: 5, Funny

      Or they got warned off...

      Cassini: [message relayed from monolith] "All these worlds are yours except Enceladus. Attempt no landings there...."

    2. Re:We all know what this means by savorymedia · · Score: 2, Funny

      Cassini: [message relayed from Cats] "All your base are belong to us. You have no chance to survive make your time."

      --
      1 is the square root of all evil.
    3. Re:We all know what this means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      So all these memes are ours except... oh, sorry. Forgot already.

    4. Re:We all know what this means by Curze · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's crazy! Giant vine-critter is just going to be hungry again in an hour.

  2. glitch prevented probe from tasting the plume by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

    Tastes like.....

    chicken.

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  3. Irony? by JshWright · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not sure I see how a software upgrade causing a "software hiccup" is an example of irony. Maybe I'll try that on my boss sometime... "No, that's not a regression... That's an ironic hiccup"

  4. Re:This stuff doesn't bode well for software by OTDR · · Score: 2, Funny

    Note to self: Turn off Windows Automatic Update...

  5. Re:This stuff doesn't bode well for software by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Overheard in a NASA deep space probe software lab....

    "It compiles! ship it!"

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  6. Hmmm by Beefslaya · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ctl+Alt+Del

    Task Manager to kill the hung process.

    Sheesh... DUH.

  7. Doomed to fail by Icarus1919 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You should always ask before you try tasting a bust - last time I got slapped in the face. And probing? Hoo boy.