They're working on it. The shuttle already has a set date for retirement, and there are plans for a next-generation vehicle. What do you expect them to do?
Throw up their hands and say, "Yeah, we know that the last flight was succesful and we have tons of modules for the ISS completed and awaiting launch, but we feel like scrapping the only vehicle capable of installing them and just letting them rust. Gotta make sure that astronauts never die, and the only way to do that is to never fly."
Well, there was the probe to Mars launched the other day, but you wouldn't hear about it on Slashdot...they did have a story about the delay of the launch, though.
However, to say that I made it up is a gross mischaracterization and misreading of my post.
Yes, I'd have to agree. I didn't mean it as a slight. This article is rather vague and offers little insight as to what has actually been discovered and what its significance is. Coming to an inaccurate conclusion as a result of trying to parse it is understandable.
Actually, you just made that up. Way to read what isn't there. This qoute might have been the foundation for your extrapolation:
The ability of the bacteria to link their nanowires has been observed in Lovley's lab. The hairlike wires emanating from the bacteria had been seen previously, but their conducting function was discovered via atomic-force microscope techniques.
Or perhaps this:
Patrinos said the bacteria may organize to form minipower grids in the soil by linking up via the nanowires.
I have no idea what is meant by a "minipower grid" nor what the bacteria in question may be "linking up" to.
It isn't clear whether he means that a single bacterium can link its own wires together or that several bacteria can link their own respective wires together. Nowhere in the text, however, does it imply that the bacteria send signals of any kind through these wires.
Ha. My cell phone has a built-in LED flashlight which shines out of the top of the phone. It's a great deal brighter than the display. It's a low-end Kyocera Energi.
Yeah, It seems that way. I mean, it's not like we're really exploring anyway. Exploring to me means to venture into previously unknown territory, like Lewis and Clark or Columbus. All we're doing in space is going to places we've known were there for centuries, but couldn't get to before. It's not like we're going to send out a manned spacecraft that discovers new planets.
This statement is absolutely correct, but what's up with mods who don't know the difference between 'Insightful' and 'Informative'? I see no great insight here, just a correction.
Well, that's what they have been doing. Trouble is, they have more junk than will fit on one of the progress vehicles. Also, a lot of the stuff the shuttle is bringing back isn't necessarily garbage per se, but old experiments and what not that are no longer needed on the station and need to be returned to Earth.
A hole in the wall for you to pee through. What a great idea, dickcheese. No women will ever come to a space station without a bathroom. What's a lonely cosmonaut to do?
Tested new shuttle repair techniques.
Installed a new gyroscope on the ISS.
Fixed a faulty one.
Hauled up a few tons of supplies for the ISS and her crew.
Hauled down a few tons of junk.
Did a photo-op of the ISS.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah....they'd probably never want to fly the orbiter unmanned, since if they're going to shoot something that big up there it's either a satellite that can go on a regular rocket or a peice of the ISS, and you need astronauts there to bolt it together. However, if for some reason it made sense to do so, I think that a retrofit allowing for 100% flight would be in order. How frickin' hard could it be?
Really? Becuase that doesn't sound anything like what the Register reported.
Apparently the FBI was cooperating with Italian authorities who were investigating an anarchist group beleived to be responsible for a parcel bombing of a UN official, who were beleived to have posted information to Indymedia in the past.
So...what are you talking about?
Actually, what are referred to as chips in Britain aren't really what we'd call fries over here. They're much too thick. I've always heard them referred to as "JoJos" or potato wedges.
If you want to know, head on over to NASA.gov and have a look. Do you think their coverage of the missions is not extensive enough? The reason the mainstream media have latched on to the problems and repair of the shuttle to the detriment of other areas of the mission is becuase the element of dangeer is lot more exciting. The safety of the shuttle is on everyone's mind, this being the first mission after the Columbia disaster.
This mission's main goals were to repair a gyroscope on the ISS, install a new module, and haul away a few tons of trash. Not exactly thrilling, but important, that is if you care about the ISS and the comfort of it's crew.
Slashdot Mirror
They're working on it. The shuttle already has a set date for retirement, and there are plans for a next-generation vehicle. What do you expect them to do?
Throw up their hands and say, "Yeah, we know that the last flight was succesful and we have tons of modules for the ISS completed and awaiting launch, but we feel like scrapping the only vehicle capable of installing them and just letting them rust. Gotta make sure that astronauts never die, and the only way to do that is to never fly."
Well, it was a direct qoute of an employee that was interviewed, so it's important for them to include it, bad taste notwithstanding.
Well, there was the probe to Mars launched the other day, but you wouldn't hear about it on Slashdot...they did have a story about the delay of the launch, though.
However, to say that I made it up is a gross mischaracterization and misreading of my post.
Yes, I'd have to agree. I didn't mean it as a slight. This article is rather vague and offers little insight as to what has actually been discovered and what its significance is. Coming to an inaccurate conclusion as a result of trying to parse it is understandable.
The ability of the bacteria to link their nanowires has been observed in Lovley's lab. The hairlike wires emanating from the bacteria had been seen previously, but their conducting function was discovered via atomic-force microscope techniques.
Or perhaps this:
Patrinos said the bacteria may organize to form minipower grids in the soil by linking up via the nanowires.
I have no idea what is meant by a "minipower grid" nor what the bacteria in question may be "linking up" to.
It isn't clear whether he means that a single bacterium can link its own wires together or that several bacteria can link their own respective wires together. Nowhere in the text, however, does it imply that the bacteria send signals of any kind through these wires.
The word 'bacteria' is plural. The singular form of 'bacteria' is 'bacterium.'
Ha. My cell phone has a built-in LED flashlight which shines out of the top of the phone. It's a great deal brighter than the display. It's a low-end Kyocera Energi.
Yeah, It seems that way. I mean, it's not like we're really exploring anyway. Exploring to me means to venture into previously unknown territory, like Lewis and Clark or Columbus. All we're doing in space is going to places we've known were there for centuries, but couldn't get to before. It's not like we're going to send out a manned spacecraft that discovers new planets.
Erm, maybe because our calendar units are based on the Solar year?
This statement is absolutely correct, but what's up with mods who don't know the difference between 'Insightful' and 'Informative'? I see no great insight here, just a correction.
I rather doubt that. Got something to verify that assertion?
Well, that's what they have been doing. Trouble is, they have more junk than will fit on one of the progress vehicles. Also, a lot of the stuff the shuttle is bringing back isn't necessarily garbage per se, but old experiments and what not that are no longer needed on the station and need to be returned to Earth.
Does anyone else have a question mark above their head after reading this?
A hole in the wall for you to pee through. What a great idea, dickcheese. No women will ever come to a space station without a bathroom. What's a lonely cosmonaut to do?
Tested new shuttle repair techniques.
Installed a new gyroscope on the ISS.
Fixed a faulty one.
Hauled up a few tons of supplies for the ISS and her crew.
Hauled down a few tons of junk.
Did a photo-op of the ISS.
100% unmanned, automated flight that is.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah....they'd probably never want to fly the orbiter unmanned, since if they're going to shoot something that big up there it's either a satellite that can go on a regular rocket or a peice of the ISS, and you need astronauts there to bolt it together. However, if for some reason it made sense to do so, I think that a retrofit allowing for 100% flight would be in order. How frickin' hard could it be?
And the capacity of a Progress vehicle is less than 10% of a shuttle. Discovery is hauling back over 3 tons of unneeded material from ISS.
I am in America! Washington state. I've heard the term steak fries, but no-one I know uses it.
Really? Becuase that doesn't sound anything like what the Register reported.
Apparently the FBI was cooperating with Italian authorities who were investigating an anarchist group beleived to be responsible for a parcel bombing of a UN official, who were beleived to have posted information to Indymedia in the past.
So...what are you talking about?
Actually, what are referred to as chips in Britain aren't really what we'd call fries over here. They're much too thick. I've always heard them referred to as "JoJos" or potato wedges.
Anything about why they wanted those log files? What did I miss?
Wrong. Clinton.
If you want to know, head on over to NASA.gov and have a look. Do you think their coverage of the missions is not extensive enough? The reason the mainstream media have latched on to the problems and repair of the shuttle to the detriment of other areas of the mission is becuase the element of dangeer is lot more exciting. The safety of the shuttle is on everyone's mind, this being the first mission after the Columbia disaster. This mission's main goals were to repair a gyroscope on the ISS, install a new module, and haul away a few tons of trash. Not exactly thrilling, but important, that is if you care about the ISS and the comfort of it's crew.
I, Zen Punk, bear witness to your stupidity and laughable naivety. You're welcome.