Because when a satellite is put into safe mode all non essential functions are disabled, which means no on station maneuvering. Putting the sat into a sunward facing orientation (for much of its orbit) ensures the satellite won't experience any problems due to lack of power. Having the satellite pointing sunward for long durations in its orbit ensure the batteries are juiced and comms can be ready and waiting for commands.
- Jettison and de-orbit any extraneous items leaving a solid shell.
- Float up a space grade nuke generator if you want to keep experiments running for long term exploration.
- Bolt a few of the latest and greatest Ion propulsion units to key spots on the super structure.
- Raise the orbit of the complex using a special Soyez capsule for the purpose.
- Slowly nudge the complex out of Earth orbit using Ion propulsion and ever increasing elliptical orbits. The gravity well will start to aid the process.
- Once the complex has cleared the confines of earths gravity well pop open the solar panels to take advantage of the solar wind.
- Expend all fuel in the Ion propulsion units to gain as much speed as possible for the gas giant(s) gravitational assists, hopefully NOT Uranus.
- Enjoy many scientific discoveries over decades as IIS rides out to the edge of the Solar System and beyond.
- In two hundred years visit the IIS using our super warp/worm tunnel/singularity powered/transporter/thing-a-ma-bopper space craft and marvel at how humans once explored space in pop cans.
Practical? Probably Not....
Possible? You bet-cha.
"and sprayed insecticides over them, ruining the experiment. It's a sad day for the freedom of scientific research."
And a sad day for the bugs too, innocent by-standers in all of this.
"Maybe there is hope for space travel outside the X Prize"
I guess the author hasn't been following the private space race at all over the last couple of years. SpaceX's accomplishments alone puts us far past X Prize days and into a new frontier, especially with SpaceX Heavy slated for 2014/2015.
I don't know why we're worried about regulating nuclear power
Because a well placed nuke can vaporize that thousand pounds of "Grade A Chinese Steel" in a fraction of a second. The Chinese would be obligated to de-orbit the station at the end of its life cycle into the South Pacific graveyard (just like MIR) and not on your head, the alternative would see a well place nuke delivered to the front door step of China.
Slashdot Mirror
Because when a satellite is put into safe mode all non essential functions are disabled, which means no on station maneuvering. Putting the sat into a sunward facing orientation (for much of its orbit) ensures the satellite won't experience any problems due to lack of power. Having the satellite pointing sunward for long durations in its orbit ensure the batteries are juiced and comms can be ready and waiting for commands.
Practical? Probably Not.... Possible? You bet-cha.
and how to define when computer sabotage is serious enough to constitute an act of war.
O, that's easy, we just need to devise a easy to understand color coded threat chart:
As long as the Clippy type avatar that appears on the TV rides away on a bicycle every time I disable this "feature" I am all for it.
"and sprayed insecticides over them, ruining the experiment. It's a sad day for the freedom of scientific research." And a sad day for the bugs too, innocent by-standers in all of this.
"Maybe there is hope for space travel outside the X Prize" I guess the author hasn't been following the private space race at all over the last couple of years. SpaceX's accomplishments alone puts us far past X Prize days and into a new frontier, especially with SpaceX Heavy slated for 2014/2015.
I wonder how far down it was?
Can someone drive over to the house of one or more EFF Board of Director and see if their personal WIFI is "unlocked"?
I don't know why we're worried about regulating nuclear power
Because a well placed nuke can vaporize that thousand pounds of "Grade A Chinese Steel" in a fraction of a second. The Chinese would be obligated to de-orbit the station at the end of its life cycle into the South Pacific graveyard (just like MIR) and not on your head, the alternative would see a well place nuke delivered to the front door step of China.
Its all Greek to me.