In September, JAXA (Japan's space agency) landed two small rovers on an asteroid. They don't have wheels; the asteroid's gravity is low enough that hopping around on the surface is a good way to go about. They're making nice discoveries about it, and are supposed to continue to do so for about a year and a half, culminating in a sample return to Earth.
Wikipedia entry here
And of course, the probes are neither female nor giant mecha. The last thing I want to do is to give in to any stereotypes.
By the way, the U.S.A. wants to ram something into an asteroid.
But it's not just for fun; it's a test of asteroid redirection. Better to know how and not need to than to need to and not know how. I mean, the dinosaurs at least had an excuse of not having opposable thumbs.
Asteroid Missions
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Fuzzy Necromancer
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Re: Asteroid Missions
Cool. News that doesn't make me want to chew open an artery.
"Believe me, there’s nothing so terrible that someone won’t support it."
— Un Lun Dun, China Mieville
— Un Lun Dun, China Mieville
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Yukaphile
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Re: Asteroid Missions
I just hope the first manned mission to Mars include a few women. That was the biggest failing of the moon missions, and yeah, it was another time. What would be our excuse today?
"A culture's teachings - and more importantly, the nature of its people - achieve definition in conflict. They find themselves, or find themselves lacking."
— Kreia, Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
— Kreia, Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
