[mathprof]

As usual, the NYT isn't telling us the whole story.

The Mars Lander crashed because the scientists behind the mission were using both the metric system and the US system for measuring distances. So the spacecraft turned out to be much closer to Mars than thought (due to using kilometers as opposed to miles).

If you think you're 30 feet from a vehicle and you're actually 15 feet away, it might be too late to put on the brakes and you might crash.

NASA is a failure.

[mewzilla]

"It was only a few short moments before touchdown that disaster struck," Dr. Malin wrote....

[Strategerist]

As usual, the NYT isn't telling us the whole story. The Mars Lander crashed because the scientists behind the mission were using both the metric system and the US system for measuring distances. So the spacecraft turned out to be much closer to Mars than thought (due to using kilometers as opposed to miles).

Wrong.

That was the Mars Climate Orbiter lost because of the conversion business. The Metric-English conversion problem had nothing to do with the loss of the Polar Lander, the subject of the article.

[Ramius]

NASA is a failure.

The whole program is a failure? Because of this one problem? Wow.

I guess we shouldn't try hard things, just in case we might make a mistake, huh?

[birbear]

NASA is a failure.

I admit, I haven't followed NASA too closely since about 1989, but it's my layman's understanding that what has failed NASA is the redefining of their mission every few years by a handful of bureaucrats.

Care to elaborate?

[TSgt]

I just wish we could send pictures back of the American flags planted in the martian soil.

[SteveMcKing]

Does this mean we get our tax money back, since promised services were not provided?

[b4its2late]

[TalBlack]

The photographs support the findings of an investigation panel that concluded that the deployment of the landing legs during descent had fooled the Polar Lander into thinking it had already touched the ground, leading it to shut off its engine while still about 130 feet in the air.


That explanation sounds like the sort of nonsense kids come up with when they are caught redhanded at something. Just wondering: how do you "fool" a machine?

[burzum]

NASA is a failure.

I would say the opposite. To me NASA is a sense of great national pride. There is no doubt in my mind that NASA has the finest space programs in the world (robotic probes and man-in-space). One of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind was undertaken in a heroic fashion by this agency and yet you still question it's legitmacy?

It amazes me how many people would like to kill all science and exploration programs, living in the New World! Fortunately, smarter minds will keep the important exploration objectives of NASA alive. Bush was wise in deciding to have NASA plot a trip to Mars: it will change our world (for less than 1% of the US budget).

[Incorrigible]

Any sign of the Beagle on Mars?

[b4its2late]

[soccer_linux_mozilla]

Keep in mind that every time you link to the NYSlimes website, hundreds here will click on the link and NYSlimes will make a lot of money off of banners displayed on their website

They made $300 million in profits last year, why help them make even more?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=nyt

[oh8eleven]

NASA is a failure.
Certainly in the last 30 years. Trillions of TAXPAYER dollars spent and in return ... what?
 

[DainBramage]