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I think this this raises an interesting point, why do we look at space with such awe in comparison arguably more complex and certainly more dangerous engineerin
by earnubs 16y ago
I think this this raises an interesting point, why do we look at space with such awe in comparison arguably more complex and certainly more dangerous engineering tasks closer to home?
- mturmon 16y agoI agree that the point is interesting. Part of it is the differentness of the environment (high radiation, low temperature, microgravity, great distance). This necessitates a rethinking of design constraints at a fundamental physical level -- i.e. deriving system constraints from first principles. Another part of it is the unique nature of a lot of the stuff we send out there -- rovers to Mars, planetary orbiters with exotic cameras, Earth-orbiting satellites with hyperspectral imagers or advanced radars, powerful telescopes with cryogenic optical/infrared cameras. Here's an example (.mov): http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/video/movies/mer_ch_edl_TerrorComb.mov http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/video/movies/mer_ch_edl_Te... from http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/video/challenges.html http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/video/challenges.html
- prawn 16y agoA building on water doesn't seem that different to the regular world for most of us. When most of what you see is on the surface (aerial shots of oil rig, smoke plumes, oil slick, etc), 95% of the population probably wouldn't realise that the rough stuff is happening over a kilometre under water.