Groundbreaking Solar Mission Faces Chilly Death 134
iamlucky13 writes "Over 17 years ago, the Ulysses spacecraft was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery for a unique NASA/ESA mission. While nearly all other probes travel along our solar system's ecliptic plane, Ulysses used a Jupiter gravity assist to swing 80 degrees out of plane, carrying it over the sun's poles for an unprecedented view. During a mission that lasted four times longer than planned, it has flown through the tails of several comets, helped pinpoint distant gamma-ray bursts, and provided data on the sun and its heliosphere from the better part of two solar cycles. Unfortunately, the natural reduction of power from its radioisotope thermal generator means it is now unable to even keep its attitude control fuel from freezing, and NASA has decided to formally conclude the mission on July 1."
I need better (Score:2, Funny)
solar power? (Score:5, Funny)
So long Energizer Bunny (Score:5, Funny)
I am waiting for Energizer to ditch that obnoxious rabbit and license the Mars Rovers for their advertising.
Re:Refreshing summertime treat... (Score:0, Funny)
Am I the only one that... (Score:5, Funny)
Ok, back to masculinity-land...
The Real Ulysses (Score:5, Funny)
As the Greek Geeks will know, the real (legendary) Ulysses (aka Odysseus [wikipedia.org]) went on a ten-year odyssey returning home after the Trojan war. All assumed that Ulysses had died and his former wife was preyed upon by suitors seeking her hand in marriage.
To cut a long story short, Ulysses killed all the suitors when he got home and was especially cruel to a turncoat goatherd, Melanthius. Ulysses cut off his nose and ears, pulled out his genitals for dog food, then sliced off his hands and feet.
Let's home the satellite doesn't come back and find us messing about with the ISS.
Bad Boy Probe (Score:0, Funny)
Re:Not really as bad as the blurb sounds (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I need better (Score:1, Funny)
Re:The Real Ulysses (Score:5, Funny)
Control moment gyros (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It can't die, it wasn't alive (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'd send it into the sun for one last splash (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So long Energizer Bunny (Score:5, Funny)
Re:solar power? (Score:5, Funny)
Don't know how to mod this (Score:5, Funny)
Well done, I'm completely stumped.
Re:So long Energizer Bunny (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe I oughta copyright the slogan before they try to use it (if they haven't already).
Sweet Lord, Star Trek Writers (Score:5, Funny)
dopant migration in the semiconductor heterojunctiontions
>>
Hire this guy. Now. He makes your "tachyon pulses" look like the deranged ramblings of a man-child.
Schoolhouse Rock (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Don't know how to mod this (Score:3, Funny)
That the OP has 6-digit UID is probably just a trick: I'm betting it's the secondary account of a 2-digit user used to catch out 4- and 5-digit newbies.
It's sort of like what Twitter does, but, you know.. with facts.