That was Genesis, not Stardust. Stardust made it back just fine.

Did the article say that the samples were
"returned to Earth?" Hardly.

The parachute on the sample module failed and the folks in the helicopter who were supposed to catch it in mid air (now there's a good idea) could only watch as this ultra fragile payload slammed into the desert floor at 160 mph.

>>>Sorry mate – that was the Genesis mission, not Stardust. Similar objective though, so fairly easily confused.

The parachute on the sample module failed and the folks in the helicopter who were supposed to catch it in mid air (now there's a good idea) could only watch as this ultra fragile payload slammed into the desert floor at 160 mph.

As somebody once intoned,
"You don't even have to be a rocket scientist to be a rocket scientist anymore."

Patiently Waiting…

JoeTO

Just saying…

Whenever I see a picture like that, I always kind of envision showing it to someone from the fifties… We may not have flying cars, but we do have 'frozen smoke.'

Sweet.

But do go on. It's being fun to watch. I only wish I had some popcorn.

I didn't insult TrustMe. I argued that his/her thought pattern was the issue. Trustme made a bad argument…and I'm being very, very liberal with how an argument is defined. Trustme didn't bother to back up any of his/her points. His/her argument is defective, deficient, or, in other words, it sucks. It's my right to say that. I didn't say a thing about Trustme as a person. I'm as inclined to grab a cup of coffee and talk about ideas with Trustme as anyone else.

Let's "get a grip"!

Humanitys spending on space is the best investment ever that we will do as a species.

The Stardust mission is a wonderful mission, which allowed the average joe to participate in the project to find particles of matter from outside our solar system, I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the stardust project and I am glad the spacecraft has been reassigned a new mission.

"oppression in Gaza"? The Israelis will end the "oppression" as soon as Hamas stops indiscriminately lobbing missles into Israel. At least Israel is trying to target Hamas fighters (who are now dressing as civilians). Who is Hamas targeting? The call for peace in the face of terrorism and murder is not compassion, it's cowardice.

You said January 6th, 2009 at 9:29 am, under the thread "Hubble, Spitzer Collaborate for Stunning Panorama of Galactic Center" you said to Salacious B. Crumb,

"You seem to have a huge animosity towards those of us in the USA and any of our materiel, so if you don't like the TV program, turn off the TV (or should I say Telly).
Your Socialist ranting is one of the reasons we left your country, and attitudes, some 300 years ago, we don't want anypart of it now.
It was probably a huge mistake on our part to get involved with your problems in the early 1900's and the 1940's, we should have let you solve them on your own. Let's pray we don't get involved again."

Why is it that you profess freedom of speech in your American Constitution as a right of their citizenship, then have the audacity to tell everyone else to ignore others (or worst in this case deride them by calling them Socialist, etc ) especially when they are not from the U.S.? Other countries also have equal freedom of speech enacted in law as well, and also respect other peoples ideas and expression.
TrustMe has not threatened anyone, subverting others way of thinking, and is not using racial or bad language.
In my view, if you don't like it don't read it, and ignore it.

Whilst TrustMe is likely way off the mark, he got the right to say what he or she wishes.

In fact, I would defend his notions, if, as I assume, he is talking about 'comet dust". His statement "Bringing home a potentially deadly product from space…." is probably wrong, but who was the one who originally professed this idea was Fred Hoyle in the 1950's 60's – a reputable astronomer and scientist. he suggested that colds and viruses could be past to Earth via panspermia. (Oh he's English, so he must be a socialist.) It is written in boos even today I.e. The Interstellar Panspermia Society, and even Carl Sagan professed it might be possible.

You then resort to insult guy you should "institute some sort of IQ test" or Mr. Greenjeans comment "Mr. Moose had a better thought pattern when he dropped a double dose of ping pong balls on Captain Kangaroo."

Perhaps you should think of the actual word 'tolerance';
"allow or to permit, to recognize and respect others' beliefs and practices without sharing them, to bear or put up with someone or something not necessarily liked"

IMO, it is stupid relativists like you that should be banned.

NOTE: This last bit also to formulaterp too…

An excellent idea – let's ban anyone who disagrees with our (read YOUR) point of view! There is to be no dialogue, no dissent, all must march forward in scientific progress no matter what the cost – the environment and planet can be ignored for now.