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Mars-Bound Probe Serves As Radiation Guinea Pig

sighted writes "This week's huge solar storm will benefit future astronauts, thanks to the rover Curiosity, now on its way to Mars. The rover is equipped with an instrument that measures the radiation exposure that could affect a human astronaut en route to the Red Planet. Scientists are just starting to pore over the data from the blast of particles. Don't worry about the poor robotic geologist, though: 'No harmful effects to the Mars Science Laboratory have been detected from this solar event,' says NASA."

3 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Damn no one tell by Dyinobal · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hope no on tells PETA that NASA is irradiating a guinea pig with a probe.

    1. Re:Damn no one tell by ackthpt · · Score: 1, Funny

      Wouldn't that be "quanta" instead of "quantum"?

      More than one kind of radiation in a cme gas cloud... doesn't make sense to measure only one.

      You measure Quanta with Koala Bears*, not Guine Pigs.

      *Substitutable with Drop-bears, if you can find any.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. My nomination by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Newt was not the first to propose an ambitious space project.

    Mars, bitches!

    And this, my fellow Americans, is why we need to have our first real black president.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.