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Google flew 155 missions for NASA. There are definitely serious questions to be asked here, but it's not as if Google wasn't contributing something.

by turing 13y ago

lostlogin 13y ago
Out of 710. And I'd bet money that of the 155 at least a few (or more likely, most) were also Google flights that did some minor data collection while off to where ever Googlers go. Has there ever been a case of corruption/fraud where the perpetrators weren't contributing something positive? If it smells rotten...
- pilsetnieks 13y ago
  Did you read the article? It was an Alpha jet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault/Dornier_Alpha_Jet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault/Dornier_Alpha_Jet) that was used for NASA flights, not a Gulfstream or a 767. It's basically a fighter jet, it wouldn't be used for Googlers going wherever they're going. Most likely that jet was bought specifically for NASA missions to maintain their agreement.
  - greedo 13y ago
    Sure, it couldn't be that any of the Googlers liked flying a high performance jet for thrills, could it?
    - pilsetnieks 13y ago
      Oh, sure, I don't doubt there were a few joyrides that may or may not be counted among the science flights but it's a far cry from, say, a Gulfstream doing a wind-speed measurement at 20000 ft. on the way between SF and NY, and calling it a meteorological experiment.
greedo 13y ago
No, Google flew 155 missions that were claimed to be for NASA. The Alphajet is a German military trainer from the early 1970s, not a research aircraft. I would like to see some documentation from NASA about what these "missions" accomplished. NASA is always whining about budgets, but on the surface, it looks like they were just shilling for Google. Next thing we'll see is Larry Ellison getting research money for flying his MIG jets...
- throwaway_yy2Di 13y ago
  This is in the NASA contract under "Purpose": "The Alpha Jet aircraft owned and operated by Partner offers unique capabilities due to its performance and altitude range, coupled with the proficiency of the pilots in high-performance and formation flying. The combination of aircraft and pilot capabilities allows ARC to design unique sampling profiles to study the Earth's atmosphere from the surface up to 51,000 ft in very tightly defined columns. This sort of profiling is valuable for comparison with satellite observations and for exploring small-scale phenomena at various altitudes." http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/pdf/675605main_SAA2-402663.pdf http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/pdf/675605main_SAA2-402663.... The Gulfstream flights to Tahiti are less credible.
- bizkeep2uu 13y ago
  http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/ajax/ajax_index.html http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/ajax/ajax_index.html

Google flew 155 missions for NASA. There are definitely serious questions to be asked here, but it's not as if Google wasn't contributing something.

by turing 13y ago

Google flew 155 missions for NASA. There are definitely serious questions to be asked here, but it's not as if Google wasn't contributing something.

lostlogin 13y ago

Out of 710. And I'd bet money that of the 155 at least a few (or more likely, most) were also Google flights that did some minor data collection while off to where ever Googlers go. Has there ever been a case of corruption/fraud where the perpetrators weren't contributing something positive? If it smells rotten...

pilsetnieks 13y ago
Did you read the article? It was an Alpha jet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault/Dornier_Alpha_Jet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault/Dornier_Alpha_Jet) that was used for NASA flights, not a Gulfstream or a 767. It's basically a fighter jet, it wouldn't be used for Googlers going wherever they're going. Most likely that jet was bought specifically for NASA missions to maintain their agreement.
- greedo 13y ago
  Sure, it couldn't be that any of the Googlers liked flying a high performance jet for thrills, could it?
  - pilsetnieks 13y ago
    Oh, sure, I don't doubt there were a few joyrides that may or may not be counted among the science flights but it's a far cry from, say, a Gulfstream doing a wind-speed measurement at 20000 ft. on the way between SF and NY, and calling it a meteorological experiment.

greedo 13y ago

No, Google flew 155 missions that were claimed to be for NASA. The Alphajet is a German military trainer from the early 1970s, not a research aircraft. I would like to see some documentation from NASA about what these "missions" accomplished. NASA is always whining about budgets, but on the surface, it looks like they were just shilling for Google. Next thing we'll see is Larry Ellison getting research money for flying his MIG jets...

throwaway_yy2Di 13y ago
This is in the NASA contract under "Purpose": "The Alpha Jet aircraft owned and operated by Partner offers unique capabilities due to its performance and altitude range, coupled with the proficiency of the pilots in high-performance and formation flying. The combination of aircraft and pilot capabilities allows ARC to design unique sampling profiles to study the Earth's atmosphere from the surface up to 51,000 ft in very tightly defined columns. This sort of profiling is valuable for comparison with satellite observations and for exploring small-scale phenomena at various altitudes." http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/pdf/675605main_SAA2-402663.pdf http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/pdf/675605main_SAA2-402663.... The Gulfstream flights to Tahiti are less credible.
bizkeep2uu 13y ago
http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/ajax/ajax_index.html http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/ajax/ajax_index.html