Japan Has Attempted To Land Two Tiny Rovers On a Distant Asteroid (arstechnica.com)

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Japan Has Attempted To Land Two Tiny Rovers On a Distant Asteroid (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on Friday September 21, 2018 @07:00PM from the suspense-is-killing-me dept.

On Friday, Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft attempted to deploy two miniature rovers on an asteroid that it's been orbiting since mid-August. Ars Technica reports: Each weighed only about a kilogram, and after separating from the main spacecraft they approached the asteroid named Ryugu. Japanese mission scientists think the rovers touched down successfully, but are not completely sure. Communication with the two landers stopped near the moment of touchdown. This is presumably because Ryugu's rotation took the rovers out of view from the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, but scientists won't know for sure until later Friday (or Saturday morning, in Japan) when they attempt to download images from the rovers. And thus we are left with a suspenseful situation.

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And thus we are left with a suspenseful situation. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:15 · Score: -1

Is the President a traitor?
Tora! Tora! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:38 · Score: -1

Taxi!
Trump gonna gitem! Make them cars in America. Make America Great! Again!
1. Re:Tora! Tora! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:41 · Score: -1
  
  Meth affects 4 out of 5 nazi faggots.
2. Re:Tora! Tora! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:48 · Score: 0
  
  I prefer to tend to my collection of authentic penis bird stuffed animals
3. Re: Tora! Tora! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:56 · Score: 0
  
  Let the tendies hit the flo!
Prot: I travel light. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:42 · Score: -1

Dr. Mark Powell: Let me tell you something, Mark. You humans. Most of you subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye. A life for a life, which is known throughout the universe for its stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had quite a different vision. But nobody has paid much attention to them, not even the Buddhists or the Christians. Sometimes, it's hard to imagine how you've made it this far.
1. Re:Prot: I travel light. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:02 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah nobody paid much attention to Christ or the Buddha, probably because they were both naked most of the time. It was like, dude. Nobody wants to stare at that, get a robe and use it.
2. Re: Prot: I travel light. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 21:29 · Score: 0
  
  Interesting but inaccurate assessment. The "eye for an eye" was not an escalation of cruelty but a redefining of how humans treat one another. Prior response was to enslave, torture, slaughter, or annihilate with no sense of respect for humanity. This institution was a complete watershed moment in human history toward dignity of mankind. Jesus not only agreed with this principle but He is the Logos who commanded it. Interestingly, about 1,500 years later, women were considered chattel and unable to testify in the court systems of their day nor participate in much of the same way a man could in society. A man in Palestine could divorce his wife at a whim with the expression of "i divorce you" three times in succession. Their value had never been elevated for much more than anecdotal points in history. In one move (having two women as witnesses to his resurrection), he showed his intention toward women in that they are equals! Minus this move and man's total (not utter) depravity, women would still be on the receiving end of this level of dominance. This Jesus you speak of was the same Being that in mercy, clothed a naked man and woman in a garden who, after having been given all, committed cosmic treason against that same Being. It wasn't Jesus who unclothed himself but rather the beings He created who in their continued depravity, tortured and killed an innocent Man. Paradoxically, it was by His institution and willingness to become a human, live a life of complete obedience which we fail to do sometimes by the minute, be slaughtered (not for an "eye for an eye" but in brutal Roman crucifixion), be raised from the place where I, the writer of this post, and you the reader of this post are all destined to end, and provide a way for anyone who believes to bypass a judgement that He will make on the souls of each of us. It sounds foolish but the evidence to this is more vetted than any historical fact and more attested to than any act in history.
3. Re: Prot: I travel light. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 21:43 · Score: 0
  
  Guess what movie that reference came from...
4. Re: Prot: I travel light. by youngone · 2018-09-23 14:05 · Score: 1
  
  It sounds foolish but the evidence to this is more vetted than any historical fact and more attested to than any act in history.
  You're right.
  It does sound foolish. It also sounds like bullshit.
Re:And thus we are left with a suspenseful situati by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 19:45 · Score: -1

or does he dance around in fine silk panties?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:16 · Score: 0

Most male birds (e.g., roosters and turkeys) have a cloaca (also present on the female), but not a penis. Among bird species with a penis are paleognathes (tinamous and ratites) and Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans). ... While most male birds have no external genitalia, male waterfowl (Anatidae) have a phallus. Trump morons (Trumpus Arumpuss) have nothing at all, just a smooth spot where genitals should be, as opposed to Trump's tiny mushroom-like growth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis
1. Re:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 21:57 · Score: 0
  
  I had no idea.
I Have Seen The Saucers. I AM the Trump! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:23 · Score: 0

And Mohammed looked just like Bin Laden. Your point that religion is the devils's work is well taken.
Still No Word by mentil · 2018-09-21 20:28 · Score: 3, Interesting

It's Saturday morning in the USA now, and it still hasn't been announced if they made it. When they spend this many hours not announcing success, that usually means there was a problem. Their Twitter feed talks about the Hayabusa2 returning to its normal distance, but says nothing of the rovers.

--
Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
1. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:31 · Score: -1
  
  there's nothing quite like the sensation of a large parrot perched upon my erect penis.
2. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:34 · Score: 0
  
  They're Japanese robots. They're built for sex combat, not exploration. Give them time to fuck on the asteroid and determine an alpha.
3. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:37 · Score: 0
  
  Why do they have two rehearsals for touchdown listed on the schedule ? with this supposed rover landing, stuck nicely between them.
  meh, call me when they sent the asteroid on its way to earth.
4. Re:Still No Word by hcs_$reboot · 2018-09-21 20:39 · Score: 1
  
  or they found something amazing that cannot be revealed yet to the average citizen.
  
  --
  Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
5. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 21:06 · Score: -1
  
  I hardly see why Trump's taxes would be "amazing" lest of all found on an asteroid...
6. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 21:08 · Score: 0
  
  or they are still unsure because there was a problem.
  Not getting a signal doesn't necessarily mean that it is game over, but if they got something it would probably have been announced.
7. Re:Still No Word by jrumney · 2018-09-21 21:08 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The communication rate from Hayabusa2 is currently 4kbps. They are probably still waiting for the first image to download so they can release it to the press.
8. Re:Still No Word by religionofpeas · 2018-09-21 22:16 · Score: 1
  
  A 3 inch monolith, perhaps.
9. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 00:02 · Score: 0
  
  That's what she said.
10. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 00:47 · Score: -1
  
  The communication rate from Hayabusa2 is currently 4kbps.
  Did they outsource to Verizon ?
11. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 05:45 · Score: 0
  
  ..and her name is, - Zarathustra!
12. Re:Still No Word by jpaine619 · 2018-09-22 13:49 · Score: 1
  
  Right... 100 billion asteroids out there.. But this one has aliens on it....
13. Re:Still No Word by hcs_$reboot · 2018-09-22 15:38 · Score: 1
  
  Right... 100 billion asteroids out there.. But this one has aliens on it....
  And out of those 100 billion asteroids, how many have been visited by humans?
  
  --
  Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
14. Re:Still No Word by jpaine619 · 2018-09-22 17:27 · Score: 1
  
  More than one.
15. Re:Still No Word by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-23 13:59 · Score: 0
  
  Why does every MORON feel a need to bring in fake news to the conversion !!!
Well, fuck you! It wasn't my time! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-21 20:46 · Score: -1

Sam Wheat: How long have you been here?
Subway Ghost: Since they pushed me.
Sam Wheat: Someone pushed you?
Subway Ghost: Yeah, someone pushed me.
Sam Wheat: Who?
Subway Ghost: What, you don't believe me? You think I fell? You think I jumped? Well, fuck you! It wasn't my time! I wasn't supposed to go! I'm not supposed to be here!
Fan-Fucking-Tastic! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 01:50 · Score: 0

This thing is only 16 minute away. At the speed of light!
One bit takes 16 minutes to traverse the distance between us and Hayabusa2.
300,000,000 kilometers. 186,000,000 miles. Two times as far as the Earth to the Sun.
1. Re:Fan-Fucking-Tastic! by jpaine619 · 2018-09-22 13:50 · Score: 1
  
  What's your point? Do you think they are sending the bits one at a time?
Twitter: Both rovers are confirmed to have landed by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 02:01 · Score: 4, Informative

https://twitter.com/haya2e_jaxa
"
We are sorry we have kept you waiting! MINERVA-II1 consists of two rovers, 1a & 1b. Both rovers are confirmed to have landed on the surface of Ryugu. They are in good condition and have transmitted photos & data. We also confirmed they are moving on the surface. #asteroidlanding
5:47 AM - 22 Sep 2018
"
clareo que si llevas toda la razon by TiendayphoneRetsRets · 2018-09-22 02:03 · Score: 0

nostros desde mi web lo hemos visto correcto senor https://tuchollo.online/
Both robots are confirmed safe by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 02:03 · Score: 0

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/09/22/national/science-health/jaxa-confirms-tiny-robots-hayabusa2-landed-asteroid/
Successful landing confirmed by Severus+Snape · 2018-09-22 02:21 · Score: 3, Informative

Rovers have beamed back images to Hayabusa2.
What's Amazing by vtcodger · 2018-09-22 03:19 · Score: 1

As I understand it the asteroid (Ryugu) is about 1km in diameter. What amazes me is that the landers can land in the first place.without drifting off and can have any moving parts without displacing themselves in the minuscule gravity. Obviously the Japanese understand all that and have made due allowance. Still it's impressive.

--
You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
Under Whelming Engineering by LifesABeach · 2018-09-22 03:36 · Score: 1

could not engineer a simple device with one job of retrieving an ore sample from a passing probe and returning to ISS? Really?!
1. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by wonkey_monkey · 2018-09-22 05:00 · Score: 1
  
  ...what? Have you woken up yet, or are you still drunk?
  
  --
  systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
2. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by LifesABeach · 2018-09-23 13:41 · Score: 1
  
  Poor little monkey, smelling the bodily fluids on your hand again? If you could demonstrate an ability to at least read at an 12 year old level, and your less complex brain cavity could show us that you can go to another web page by clicking on the web anchor stated in TFA, then maybe we could clap at your performance of siting from the web article, return to Earth about a year later, landing in a remote part of Australia. all the while your handler generates sound using some hand cranked box.
  
  but you can not. or you would have done it already.
3. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-23 14:02 · Score: 0
  
  When was the last time you accomplished this task ??
4. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by LifesABeach · 2018-09-24 08:24 · Score: 1
  
  Poor A/C, it is obvious that you have not even tried.
5. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by wonkey_monkey · 2018-09-28 09:39 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps if you knew anything about space exploration and orbital mechanics you might have an inkling of how much harder it would be to do what you're suggesting.
  
  If you could demonstrate an ability to at least read at an 12 year old level
  The problem is that you're not demonstrating an ability to write at the level of a 12-year-old.
  
  --
  systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
6. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by LifesABeach · 2018-10-02 03:09 · Score: 1
  
  So you're saying that you read /. for its literary content? That's funny, thanks.
7. Re:Under Whelming Engineering by wonkey_monkey · 2018-10-04 08:34 · Score: 1
  
  I have no idea what point you're trying to make with that comment.
  
  --
  systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Tiny rovers? by nospam007 · 2018-09-22 07:24 · Score: 1

I thought we were living in the 'giant SUVs' time.
1. Re:Tiny rovers? by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-23 14:09 · Score: 0
  
  Please take out your check book and says that again.
Ambitious Mission by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-22 11:25 · Score: 0

These rovers are just the first part of this ambitious mission. According to CNN the main Hayabusa2 spacecraft will launch a 3rd rover called MASCOT in early October. Then later in October the main Hayabusa2 spacecraft will attempt to land on Ryugu after blasting a crater to expose material that have not been exposed to space. The Hayabusa2 spacecraft will attempt to collect samples of this material. The plan is for the Hayabusa2 to depart Ryugu in December 2019 and return to earth with its samples late in 2020.
Look Billy-Bob by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-23 01:47 · Score: 0

Lookit, Bill-Bob. Ima fire my 308 over my shoulder, off old-man Wilson's water tower, off the bridge over in Dix county, off the railroad tracks in Gelph county and round yonder before hitting that fly right thar.
BAM. Dead fly.
Fan-fucking-tastic. The point is that they made an incredible shot over absurd distances with a 32 minute lag between observing something and sending a command in response. And they did it.
Fan-fucking-tastic!
Ryugu Hayabusa?!?! 0_o by Anonymous Coward · 2018-09-23 13:54 · Score: 0

The asteroid is covered with Ninjas!