Dru Posted January 9, 2004 Posted January 9, 2004 Mars was not the only action at JPL Tuesday. Scientists working one floor below the Mars team reported the latest from the Stardust mission, which flew through the storm of dust flowing off the Comet Wild 2 last week to pick up samples for the spacecraft's return to Earth in two years. The Stardust team released images and data gathered as the craft flew within 150 miles of the comet, where it measured three bursts of intense bombardment by particles streaming off the comet's core. The bombardment peaked at more than 1,000 impacts per second, with some projectiles as big as a .22-caliber bullet but traveling at much higher velocities. The armored spacecraft survived the barrage -- during which about 10 million particles struck its shields -- and managed to keep its camera focused on the rotating three-mile-diameter nucleus, capturing an image of an unexpectedly tortured surface pocked with sinkholes and impact craters, steep cliffs and jutting peaks, and multiple spurting jets of gases. Lead scientist Don Brownlee of the University of Washington at Seattle gleefully described the comet surface as "ungodly complicated" and "the most feature-rich body in the solar system." If someone from Washington discovers them does that make them part of the Cascades? Quick, wake Fred up! Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 9, 2004 Posted January 9, 2004 It's pretty hard to make a topo when the comet is remaking it's surface as it orbits the sun. It's got to be the "ultimate chosspile". That must be what makes it so compelling for Dru. It reminds him of his favorite peaks. Quote
Dru Posted January 9, 2004 Author Posted January 9, 2004 silly catbirdseat, that's ice and mixed climbing on a comet! choss is found on asteroids! Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 10, 2004 Posted January 10, 2004 You're quite right, old chap. I wonder what sound and ice tool makes as it penetrates methane and ammonia ice, assuming you had air to conduct the sound waves. Would it give the same satisfying *thunk!*? Quote
Dru Posted January 10, 2004 Author Posted January 10, 2004 comets have a relatively thick atmosphere when outgassing also thunks is wasted energy. the sharp pick is silent Quote
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