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Elementary School Kids Explore the Moon At Close Range
sighted writes "The twin robotic spacecraft that make up the new GRAIL mission to map the moon's gravity include small cameras in addition to their primary scientific instruments. The first images from those cameras, as selected by school kids, were downlinked to Earth on March 20. 'MoonKAM is based on the premise that if your average picture is worth a thousand words, then a picture from lunar orbit may be worth a classroom full of engineering and science degrees,' said Maria Zuber, GRAIL mission principal investigator."
Given the summary title, I was hoping that we'd actually sent some kids into lunar orbit... as an elementary school teacher, I know a few I wouldn't mind sending.
Every time I see a picture is worth a thousand words I ask myself which takes up more disc space?
In TFA, it was stated that
"based on the premise that if your average picture is worth a thousand words, then a picture from lunar orbit may be worth a classroom full of engineering and science degrees,' said Maria Zuber, GRAIL mission principal investigator"
I am trying not to rain on their parade, but ...
Based on the societal structure now, wall street bankers, stock brokers and all those who work in financial industries are raking in multi-Giga-bucks
On the other hand, how much are engineers, principal investigators, scientists making?
And based on the social pecking order --- the engineers, scientists, principal investigators have to kow tow to those with $$$
Let's face it: Science and Engineering aren't hot anymore
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
Come on.
Everyone knows a kid or ten they'd like to put into lunar orbit.
...with that onboard camera? Please?
To hush the anti-moon-landing conspiracists once and for all.
These pictures are terrible. My phone takes better pictures than these.
How many pictures are chosen because some kid "sees a bunny"?
"if your average picture is worth a thousand words, then a picture from lunar orbit may be worth a classroom full of engineering and science degrees"
This is the dumbest thing I've heard in my life. And I don't say that lightly, this is, quite literally, the dumbest thing I have heard anyone say, ever.
-1 disagree is not a modifier for a reason. -1 troll, flaimbait, redundant, overrated are NOT acceptable substitutes.
Let's face it: Science and Engineering aren't hot anymore
On the contrary: Science and Engineering are very hot... in Asia.
US is still famous for their technical schools. Asians are going there in droves for a degree before comming back and getting excellent jobs. Engineers are highly respected there.
If a kid is passionate about science/engineering let him do it along with Chinese language on the side. Once he gets his qualifications, emmigrate to Asia and rake in the money/enjoy his career.
I don't get it.
Why spend $375 million sending a camera to the moon only to return such poor quality images?
I looked a dozens of them, they all seem small, grainy, out of focus and black and white. (of course the moon being mostly grey might explain this last point)
Couldn't they afford a better camera? My smartphone would have done a better job.
If a kid is passionate about science/engineering let him do it along with Chinese language on the side. Once he gets his qualifications, emmigrate to Asia and rake in the money/enjoy his career
As I am typing this, I am in Asia
Engineers in Asia, like their peers in the States / Europe, aren't exactly "raking in money"
In fact, my company is employing very qualified engineers - all having more than 15 years of experience in their respective field - in Asia and their wages are actually _lower_ than those who assembler cars for GM in the States
Their income can't even begin to compare to bankers in Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
We need to teach them the power of solidarity as well. That way, once they're all busily being exploited by the basically worthless but mysteriously rich 1%, they can shut off Wall Street's routers all at once. The 1%'s deep seated sense of entitlement combined with raw animal panic will drive their blood pressure to record highs. One by one their aneurysms will pop like a string of firecrackers and the problem will be solved.
We need to teach them the power of solidarity as well. That way, once they're all busily being exploited by the basically worthless but mysteriously rich 1%, they can shut off Wall Street's routers all at once. The 1%'s deep seated sense of entitlement combined with raw animal panic will drive their blood pressure to record highs. One by one their aneurysms will pop like a string of firecrackers and the problem will be solved.
Ahhhh... you have pinpointed the biggest weakness of the techies/nerds
We are not "snake" enough
We do whatever we are told, and we will try our very best to carry out our duty
We even set impossible standards for ourselves
99% is not enough
99.9% is not enough
We strive for 99.999% (Five 9's) or even 99.9999% (Six 9's)
On the other hands, those who are in Wall Street - the "1%" - are snakes
They know our weakpoint and they exploit us
For the pittance that they paid us, we award them with wonderful devices, from servers with multiple redundancies to iPads
For all our hard work, what do we get?
On the other hand, the hundreds of billions of profits from the many amazing devices that the engineers/scientists all gone to line the pockets of those 1%
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !