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'Your name here' proposed for comet
San Jose Business Journal ^ | May 9, 2003

Posted on 05/09/2003 1:18:20 PM PDT by HAL9000

If you've ever wanted your name on a comet, now's your chance.

Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA plan to send a satellite to crash into a comet in 2005 and aboard the craft will be a CD with the names of perhaps thousands of Earthlings.

The names will be carried on board NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft, the first deep-space mission designed to collide with a comet. Mission scientists are confident an impact on the nucleus of a comet called Tempel 1 will answer basic questions about the nature and composition of these celestial wanderers.

"This is an opportunity to become part of an extraordinary space mission," says Don Yeomans, an astronomer at JPL and a member of Deep Impact's science team. "When the craft is launched in December 2004, yours and the names of your loved-ones can hitch along for the ride and be part of what may be the best space fireworks show in history."

Deep Impact's larger flyby spacecraft will carry a smaller impactor spacecraft to Tempel 1 for release into the comet's path for a planned collision. The flyby spacecraft will take pictures as the 816 pound copper-tipped impactor plunges into Tempel 1 at about 22,990 miles per hour. The impactor is expected to make a spectacular, football field-sized crater, seven to 15 stories deep, in the speeding comet. Carried aboard the impactor will be a standard mini-CD containing the names of comet and space enthusiasts from around the world.

People may submit their names for this historic one-way mission by visiting NASA's Deep Impact Web site, now through February 2004, at deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov.

The collision between the impactor and Tempel 1 is not forceful enough to make an appreciable change in the comet's orbital path around the sun, NASA says. The comet poses no threat to Earth, NASA says.



TOPICS: News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: comet; deepimpact; jpl; nasa; tempel1
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To: Piltdown_Woman
Reading deeper into your comment, I sense that some love-sick swain has actually contributed to one of those star-naming ventures, and has immortalized your name among the heavens. How sweet. Where in the night sky would one look to find "your" star?
21 posted on 05/09/2003 6:20:14 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.)
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To: PatrickHenry
You are a sharp one :^) Look towards the constellation of Leo, in the lower left quadrant. It's a fairly bright star.

Should you need any more pointers on romantic things to do (or perhaps say) for a potential lady-love, feel free to ask anytime. Time's a'wastin'!!! :^D

22 posted on 05/09/2003 6:43:21 PM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: PatrickHenry
I sense that some love-sick swain has actually contributed to one of those star-naming ventures, and has immortalized your name among the heavens.

BTW, it wasn't our mutual friend and highly-admired colleague...it was another "love-sick swain". Drat! Can't even remember the fellow's name at the moment...

23 posted on 05/09/2003 6:48:28 PM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: PatrickHenry
At least it's not one of those "name a star" scams, that charges a fee and promises to put the name in a [worthless] book that will be "registered in the Library of Congress!!!"

Hey! I got one of those stars named after me!

It's called "We Got Your Girlfriend's Money for Your Birthday!"

24 posted on 05/09/2003 6:50:44 PM PDT by Focault's Pendulum (I'm changing my tag line....somebody hand that wench....no...the blonde.)
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To: Piltdown_Woman
Can't even remember the fellow's name at the moment...

There's a lesson here. He should have spent his money more wisely. On buying you breakfast.

25 posted on 05/09/2003 6:53:13 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.)
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To: HAL9000
If I remember correctly, NASA did the same thing with Cassini. That one's been in space for at least 5 years now, and it's headed to Saturn.

One more thing. Hopefully the impact from our probe won't knock the stupid thing over into our orbit. :)
26 posted on 05/09/2003 6:57:07 PM PDT by July 4th
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To: Piltdown_Woman; PatrickHenry
If I might offer, Patrick...perhaps that is why you remain, shall we say, "unattached".

What's this? Impossible.

I have it on good authority that PH and his furry mascot, Plato the Platy have an inseparable attachment for each other. So inseparable, in fact, that the DA is researching what to charge him with....

;-)

27 posted on 05/09/2003 8:18:53 PM PDT by longshadow
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To: Piltdown_Woman
Should you need any more pointers on romantic things to do

Dear Pildown_Woman;

Do you recommend using leather restraints on the first date, or should I be more conservative and and stick with the velvet ones until I "know her" better?

Sincerely,

All Tied Up and Nowhere to Go......

28 posted on 05/09/2003 8:27:43 PM PDT by longshadow
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To: HAL9000
This is a shabby lie meant to conceal the true mission which is to try and intercept this Earth destroying comet. They've known about it for years.

Why do they keep us in the dark?
29 posted on 05/09/2003 8:30:58 PM PDT by shempy
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To: PatrickHenry
There's a lesson here. He should have spent his money more wisely. On buying you breakfast.

If he were a real man, she'd be interested more in something other than breakfast.....

30 posted on 05/09/2003 8:31:03 PM PDT by longshadow
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To: HAL9000
#15332 should ring a bell
31 posted on 05/09/2003 8:36:36 PM PDT by RIGHT IN SEATTLE
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To: HAL9000
Numbers don't work, try a hilllllary search:)
32 posted on 05/09/2003 8:40:37 PM PDT by RIGHT IN SEATTLE
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To: PatrickHenry
Oh, honey...he was simply a frog that remained so...in fact, I believe he was a lawyer! Heh
33 posted on 05/09/2003 9:25:00 PM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: longshadow
All Tied Up and Nowhere to Go......

Been spending a bit too much time alone with that telescope, I see. Well, science'll do that to you. My recommendation: take a walk in the park, look at the lovely spring flowers, greet a pretty lady or two as you are strolling, and settle in at a nice coffee shop for a cappucino. Then, smile to yourself with the sweet satisfaction that you did not let this spring go by unnoticed. Life is far too short, my friend. Savor what is presented to you...(also, speculating on the personal lives and habits of friends may anger the gods of astronomy).

34 posted on 05/09/2003 9:34:12 PM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: longshadow
If he were a real man, she'd be interested more in something other than breakfast.....

Patrick's implication was a bit more suggestive, I'm afraid. My problem has been with finding a man smart enough (and humble enough) to hold my interest for more than a millisecond. Sadly, as smart as many scientists are, they are simply not good at what makes a relationship tick.

35 posted on 05/09/2003 9:38:14 PM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: Piltdown_Woman; longshadow
Patrick's implication was a bit more suggestive, I'm afraid. My problem has been with finding a man smart enough (and humble enough) to hold my interest for more than a millisecond. Sadly, as smart as many scientists are, they are simply not good at what makes a relationship tick.

Longshadow's failure to understand "breakfast" is indicative of a man who got married in high school and never enjoyed a free moment thereafter. And poor Piltdown_Woman ... she gets it, but somehow remains unfulfilled. I think I can help you both. I shall accumulate a week's worth of spam, and then forward it on to each of you, via freepmail. If you can skip through the ones about interest rates, working at home, and digital cameras, I'm sure you'll find useful material.

PS: I'm looking for a way to name Orion after myself.

36 posted on 05/10/2003 3:57:54 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.)
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To: PatrickHenry; longshadow
I think I can help you both. I shall accumulate a week's worth of spam, and then forward it on to each of you, via freepmail.

Longshadow, we've just been insulted by a man who keeps a platypus as a familiar...something must be done.

37 posted on 05/10/2003 4:21:48 AM PDT by Aracelis (Oh, evolve!)
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To: HAL9000

bump


38 posted on 11/24/2004 5:21:57 PM PST by kimosabe31
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