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'Wrecking Ball' Could Break The Ice On Mars
New Scientist ^ | 1-26-2006 | Maggie McKee

Posted on 01/26/2006 10:43:05 AM PST by blam

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"Christensen's team will submit a preliminary proposal for the $450 million mission to NASA in July. "

The cheap way to do this is to go to Texas A&M and have them fire a rock at Mars using a rail gun they have.

1 posted on 01/26/2006 10:43:07 AM PST by blam
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To: blam

i see a face


2 posted on 01/26/2006 10:44:21 AM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: blam

Too bad the Stargate system doesn't exist.


4 posted on 01/26/2006 10:46:56 AM PST by lilylangtree
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To: blam

Didn't we already bounce a probe off Mars a few years ago?


5 posted on 01/26/2006 10:47:19 AM PST by Dahoser (Time to condense the nonsense: Terry Tate for Congressional Linebacker.)
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To: Flavius

But won't the Martians be really ticked?


6 posted on 01/26/2006 10:48:39 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: mlc9852

Art Bell (((PING)))?


7 posted on 01/26/2006 10:49:48 AM PST by oxcart (Remember Bush lied.......People DYED... THEIR FINGERS! (M. Steyn))
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To: blam
While the prospect of sending up a 500lb object into space just to run it into something seems extreme, at least NASA has experience running things into Mars. They may need a couple of shots to improve their aim, but I'm sure they can get the planet. Well, 98% sure, they've got a good track record.
8 posted on 01/26/2006 10:50:33 AM PST by faloi
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To: blam
Hope the martians don't take it as an overt attack on their homeland


9 posted on 01/26/2006 10:52:05 AM PST by ElectricStrawberry (27th Infantry Regiment...cut in half during the Clinton years....Nec Aspera Terrent!!!)
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To: blam

Why waste the copper? Drop something unimportant, like Michael Moore.


10 posted on 01/26/2006 10:55:52 AM PST by Tennessee_Bob ("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
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To: lilylangtree
Too bad the Stargate system doesn't exist.

So they would have you believe...

=)

11 posted on 01/26/2006 10:56:31 AM PST by SquirrelKing
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To: blam

Nice. But they should also have a "spirit" type lander along that can land afterwards and go check out the new crater up close.


12 posted on 01/26/2006 10:56:49 AM PST by Dreagon
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To: Tennessee_Bob

Why waste the copper? Drop something unimportant, like Michael Moore.



Because we are only trying to make a small crater.


13 posted on 01/26/2006 10:58:04 AM PST by Dreagon
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To: blam

"The cheap way to do this is to go to Texas A&M and have them fire a rock at Mars using a rail gun they have."

I don't believe they have a rail gun capable of velocities that exceed the escape velocity from Earth.


14 posted on 01/26/2006 11:03:23 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: blam
This is great news.

Finally, the ice will release the oxygen to the Marian atmosphere. It has been far too long that the Vilos Cohaagen has kept the Martian ice frozen under the surface. All thanks to Douglas Quaid/Hauser.

[mattdono stops. friend whispers into his ear]. You mean, we're not talking about the plot for one of the greatest movies ever, Total Recall?

Oh, ok. Um, nevermind. [wink]

15 posted on 01/26/2006 11:06:59 AM PST by mattdono (The New 'Rat math: 0.0000017% = Vast Wiretapping of "Americans" Riiiggghhhhtttt...)
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To: blam
The idea behind THOR (Tracing Habitability, Organics, and Resources)....

They're calling it THOR? Then they have the wrong planet. They need to name it after the god of war, and call it TIW (Tracing Icy Wreckage).

16 posted on 01/26/2006 11:12:46 AM PST by inquest (If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
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To: mattdono

Most great science fiction movies are from books and short stories written by Phillip K. Dick

I'm still waiting for the film treatment of "Counter Clock World"


17 posted on 01/26/2006 11:18:32 AM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: blam

http://www.punkinchunkin.com/main.htm

Fire an orange orb at it.


18 posted on 01/26/2006 11:21:27 AM PST by Range Rover (Kerry is STILL a Fraud...Rather is the Court Jester)
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To: TC Rider

Ubik would be good as well. So would The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.

But they are a bit obscure and would probably make Dune seem like The Cat in The Hat by comparison.

Phillip Kendall Dick was the greatest science fiction writer ever.

If you haven't read Valis, get it. Very autobiographical.


19 posted on 01/26/2006 11:26:54 AM PST by djf
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To: Certain_Doom
good practice for Rods from God
That's what we should be using, instead of the ball.
20 posted on 01/26/2006 11:36:30 AM PST by samtheman
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