Truly. I'd hate to see a priceless source of biological data lost if there WAS something there, but the only way to prevent it is extensive remote research with completely decontaminated robots. And I'm not even sure that's possible.
At some point, if we don't find anything, we'll just have to say we tried... and then it's our turn to go.
Not so. Colonists, particularly early colonists, tend to bear advantageous traits - and go through a second weeding process once they arrive.
Australia was a dumping ground for poor people the mother country didn't want and threw away as "criminals"... and hasn't turned out badly anyway. Volunteers of any stripe would be quite different, I think.
As for Mars, it probably wouldn't be all that different from living in very isolated camps in our polar regions, and that's how I grew up. Man, I'd go in a flash!
I don't think it's a question of microbes spreading across the planet quickly so much as it is one of determining whether human samplers contaminate their samples, equipment, whatever. They could spread pretty quickly, though, assuming they could find something to metabolize - and even dead they'd complicate the issue.
Yeah, Robinson is about the head of the class these days, along with Neal Stephenson and William Gibson of course (need I tell any good/.er that?). Zelazney, though, was something else again. If you ever happen to see it, buy/steal/barter a copy of "Doorways In The Sand". Brilliant, and perhaps the best opening chapter in all of SF. Cheers!
Funny, troll, that's the exact same text you posted in reply when I used "M$". And you apparently missed the point completely. I have no great hate for Microsoft's better products - I'm using two of them right now.
Microsoft IS a for-profit corporation, and that's why the M$ in my writing. As far as bashing them for unfair trade practices like unduly expoiting monopoly positions and FUD, well, when the shoe fits, sniff it, baby!
Actually, it's not a question of technology - it's a question of population. Less people, less primary production devoted to feeding people, more undiluted nature.
She wouldn't understand it. And sadly, couldn't do anything about it if she did. I might be the IT guy for my program, but our overall IT policy is set by conservative M$/Novell fans in another province.
I break enough rules just by recommending Firebird and Thunderbird...
Presumably the harpoon will have waaay lower mass than the lander, and the comet waaaay higher mass than either. Low acceleration for the lander = no problem in the time scale we're talking about. High mass (approaches 0 accel.) for the comet means that the harpoon buries itself.
I think...
Slashdot Mirror
Truly. I'd hate to see a priceless source of biological data lost if there WAS something there, but the only way to prevent it is extensive remote research with completely decontaminated robots. And I'm not even sure that's possible.
At some point, if we don't find anything, we'll just have to say we tried... and then it's our turn to go.
Not so. Colonists, particularly early colonists, tend to bear advantageous traits - and go through a second weeding process once they arrive.
Australia was a dumping ground for poor people the mother country didn't want and threw away as "criminals"... and hasn't turned out badly anyway. Volunteers of any stripe would be quite different, I think.
As for Mars, it probably wouldn't be all that different from living in very isolated camps in our polar regions, and that's how I grew up. Man, I'd go in a flash!
I don't think it's a question of microbes spreading across the planet quickly so much as it is one of determining whether human samplers contaminate their samples, equipment, whatever. They could spread pretty quickly, though, assuming they could find something to metabolize - and even dead they'd complicate the issue.
...is it just me, or does the price tag seem kind of low? I mean, if that's 1.13 billion Canadian, it's well under a billion US over the next 5 years.
Yeah, Robinson is about the head of the class these days, along with Neal Stephenson and William Gibson of course (need I tell any good /.er that?). Zelazney, though, was something else again. If you ever happen to see it, buy/steal/barter a copy of "Doorways In The Sand". Brilliant, and perhaps the best opening chapter in all of SF. Cheers!
Funny, troll, that's the exact same text you posted in reply when I used "M$". And you apparently missed the point completely. I have no great hate for Microsoft's better products - I'm using two of them right now.
Microsoft IS a for-profit corporation, and that's why the M$ in my writing. As far as bashing them for unfair trade practices like unduly expoiting monopoly positions and FUD, well, when the shoe fits, sniff it, baby!
Actually, it's not a question of technology - it's a question of population. Less people, less primary production devoted to feeding people, more undiluted nature.
Yeah, but then I'd be stuck running Novell. Frankly, I'd be happy if they let me run my own little FirstClass setup and left me alone.
She wouldn't understand it. And sadly, couldn't do anything about it if she did. I might be the IT guy for my program, but our overall IT policy is set by conservative M$/Novell fans in another province.
I break enough rules just by recommending Firebird and Thunderbird...
Presumably the harpoon will have waaay lower mass than the lander, and the comet waaaay higher mass than either. Low acceleration for the lander = no problem in the time scale we're talking about. High mass (approaches 0 accel.) for the comet means that the harpoon buries itself. I think...