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Is Europa Too Prickly To Land On?

Posted by samzenpus on from the watch-your-step dept.

astroengine writes "A deadly bed of icy javelins — known as penitentes — could be awaiting any spacecraft that tries to land on some parts of the ice-covered world Europa, say researchers who have carefully modeled the ice processes at work on parts of the Jovian moon to detect features beyond the current low resolution images. If the prediction of long vertical blades of ice is correct, it will not only help engineers design a lander to tame or avoid the sabers, but also help explain a couple of nagging mysteries about the strange moon. 'This is a game changer,' said planetary scientist Don Blankenship of the University of Texas in Austin. Blankenship has been involved in NASA's planning process for sending a reconnaissance spacecraft and eventually a lander to Europa."

9 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Arthur C Clarke strikes again! by dkleinsc · · Score: 5, Funny

    What part of "Attempt no landing there" don't you people understand?

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    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    1. Re:Arthur C Clarke strikes again! by Mikkeles · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nuke the landing site from orbit! Next problem?

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      Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
  2. Hmmm... by GeneralEmergency · · Score: 4, Funny

    .

    I, for one, suggest a low altitude detonation of a low-yield thermo-nuclear device at any potential landing sites prior to the landing attempt.

    This should glass over the LZ and let any locals know that papa's coming home and he's pissed.

    .

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    "A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
    GeneralEmergency
    1. Re:Hmmm... by istartedi · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just what we need. Another Europan war.

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      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    2. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Gaia is, and, has always been at war with West Europa

  3. BOOM!, problem solved. by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just drop a M-121 bomb on the LZ to clear things out before landing.
    Take that spacecommies!
    America, FUCK YEAH!

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    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:BOOM!, problem solved. by Gilmoure · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Wouldn't this particular comment fully reflect the opinions of the JCS? Just sorta seems to be their thing.

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      I drank what? -- Socrates
  4. Stupid NSA by cyber-vandal · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not surprised Europa is a bit prickly at the moment.

  5. Zeus had no problem with it by darkHanzz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just saying...