Satellite Celebrates 20 Years Working in Orbit

Satellite Celebrates 20 Years Working in Orbit 199

Posted by michael on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:41PM from the retirement-age dept.

lloydwood writes "The UoSAT-2/UO-11 small satellite was launched into low Earth orbit on 1 March 1984 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Twenty years later, it's still in orbit and operational -- and we recently found launch footage. To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of starting in orbit, the original video celebrating the UoSAT-2 launch is available (in windows media and mpeg). Thrill to the computers, the clothes, and the haircuts of 1984. SSTL has launched more than twenty satellites since."

Satellite Celebrates 20 Years Working in Orbit

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Not for a few more minutes... (Score:4, Funny)

by suso ( 153703 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:43PM (#8433928) Journal

Just wait, I'm calibrating the targeting device on my low orbit space modulator.

Hold it... Hold it........ Fire!

I bet... (Score:2, Funny)

by Cytlid ( 95255 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:43PM (#8433932)

...it runs Unix.

Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

by leifm ( 641850 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:44PM (#8433941)

Since when do we celebrate various equipment still working? Guess I better ready for my PS2's upcoming 2 year still working anniversary!

After it is /.ed (~60 meg video!) (Score:4, Funny)

by mobby_6kl ( 668092 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:45PM (#8433951)

[Insert obligatory "1982 web servsr" joke]

Re:I bet... (Score:3, Funny)

by loserbert ( 697119 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:45PM (#8433953) Homepage

But have they paid for their license?

Slashdotting imminent (Score:5, Funny)

by capz loc ( 752940 ) writes: <capzloc.gmail@com> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:46PM (#8433956)

With posting a 64-meg MPEG, I think we can be sure that their server won't have nearly the uptime of the satellite.

If it was... (Score:5, Funny)

by SisyphusShrugged ( 728028 ) writes: <me@@@igerard...com> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:46PM (#8433961) Homepage

If it was made twenty years ago, wouldnt it have to be 10,000 times larger than a modern computer and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe would own them.

Re:Slashdotting imminent (Score:4, Funny)

by budhaboy ( 717823 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:47PM (#8433973)

It's sort of funny watching my download speed (via cable modem) slowly drop... T-250KB/s... 249... 248.. Kind of reinforces the whole moment of a lift off...

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

by pcraven ( 191172 ) writes: <paul@cravenfam[ ].com ['ily' in gap]> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:48PM (#8433984) Homepage

Dude, I'm so old every time I hear PS2 I still think of IBM's old PS/2 [seds.org]. Anyone else remember those?

Re:Not for a few more minutes... (Score:5, Funny)

by herrvinny ( 698679 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:48PM (#8433985)

Don't you mean your Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator [barbneal.com]?

1984 (Score:5, Funny)

by Gothmolly ( 148874 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:48PM (#8433987)

Hey, some of us remember 1984, you insensitive clod!

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

by mblase ( 200735 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:48PM (#8433991)

Since when do we celebrate various equipment still working?

Wait until you're fifty years old. If your equipment is still working, you'll be celebrating too.

20 years uptime (Score:4, Funny)

by vpscolo ( 737900 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:49PM (#8433998) Homepage

Now if we had hardware/software that could do that you could truely run a business with 100% SLA. Of course if you had a bewoulf of these... ...I'll get me coat

Rus

hair? (Score:5, Funny)

by Matey-O ( 518004 ) * writes: <michaeljohnmiller@mSPAMsSPAMnSPAM.com> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:50PM (#8434008) Homepage Journal

"and the haircuts of 1984"

Those are not 1984 haircuts....Flock of Seagulls had 1984 haircuts....these are the haircuts of people that don't give a lot of wattage to personal apperance.

If they were closer to New York, we could give the Fab 5 a call! (http://bravotv.com/Queer_Eye_for_the_Straight_Guy /)

Watching a slashdot happen... (Score:5, Funny)

by Dracolytch ( 714699 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:52PM (#8434030) Homepage

Kinda cool, actually...

Downloading at: 45 KBps

30 seconds later...

Downloading at: 40 KBps

20 seconds later...

Downloading at: 35 KBps

The race is on! Will I get the file before the server dies?!?

~D

Re:1984 (Score:3, Funny)

by trick-knee ( 645386 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:52PM (#8434032) Homepage

> Hey, some of us remember 1984,

yeah, and what was that crack about hairstyles supposed to mean? I still look like that.

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

by savagedome ( 742194 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:54PM (#8434050)

Remember? Take a guess where this post is coming from ;)

Re:Umm... (Score:3, Funny)

by orkysoft ( 93727 ) writes: <orkysoft@m y r e a l b ox.com> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:56PM (#8434065) Journal

A keyboard with a PS/2 style plug?

Re:Not quite as amazing as Oscar 7 (Score:2, Funny)

by PPGMD ( 679725 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:56PM (#8434071) Journal

Oscar 7 was fixed by aliens. Sort of like the Spirit Rover. http://klydemorris.com/strips.cfm?strip_ID=1240

Re:1984 (Score:3, Funny)

by Tumbleweed ( 3706 ) * writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:58PM (#8434085)

> I still look like that.

I bet most of those rocket scientists do, too. :)

Not only do I remember the PS/2, ... (Score:5, Funny)

by burgburgburg ( 574866 ) writes: <splisken06@@@email...com> on Monday March 01, 2004 @05:59PM (#8434096)

and not only do I remember the commercials featuring Jamie Farr (of MASH fame), but I even have a PS/2 t-shirt (in great condition).
I had to explain to my wife that wearing it didn't mean I was old: it meant I was being post-ironic.

Fashion statement (Score:5, Funny)

by CaptainCarrot ( 84625 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:00PM (#8434115)

Thrill to the computers, the clothes, and the haircuts of 1984.
Although we can be reasonably well-assured that the computers were state-of-the-art at the time, the clothes and haircuts are another matter. Please remember that these are professional geeks we're talking about, and are therefore not exactly cutting edge when it comes to fashion. To all appearances it was closer to 1978 than 1984.
I know this because I was in college in 1984, and we all looked great, but these guys look like dorks.

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

by shadowj ( 534439 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:00PM (#8434118)

Old?? The PS/2 series was introduced in 1987! That's not old! That's only... um....
Damn, I'm old.

1984 was so long ago (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:04PM (#8434148)

Duke Nukem: Forever was only 3 years into development.

20 years alright (Score:3, Funny)

by ravenspear ( 756059 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:08PM (#8434172)

and we recently found launch footage

Unfortunately they forgot to update the server it was originally hosted on way back in the day.

Re:Slashdotting imminent (Score:3, Funny)

by slipgun ( 316092 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:12PM (#8434203)

It's a university site and they still couldn't survive a slashdotting!

Posting an MPEG link direct to slashdot is the very definition of cruel :-)

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:12PM (#8434206)

I, too, must post this anonymously.

I was that Military Man. The project to which you refer was the 'Alan Parsons Project'. We were going to put a jumbo 'laser' on the moon as part of a world domination plan. Didn't work out for some reason, I think a British agent foiled the plan or something.

Re:Not only do I remember the PS/2, ... (Score:4, Funny)

by Thud457 ( 234763 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:13PM (#8434213) Homepage Journal

No, post-ironic is telivision's TJ Hooker trying to sell Vic-20's to the group that he just recently admonished to " GET A LIFE! "!!!

Re:Umm... (Score:3, Funny)

by DR SoB ( 749180 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:15PM (#8434227) Journal

Dude anyone who says "dude" isn't that old...

Re:Life expectancy (Score:3, Funny)

by MMaestro ( 585010 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:23PM (#8434288)

I think the question should be, "what was the life expectancy for this satellite?"

Re:1984 (Score:5, Funny)

by digital bath ( 650895 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:30PM (#8434325) Homepage

I must say, 1984 sure was a double-plus-good year.

Congrats! But... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @06:42PM (#8434445)

...doesn't it just beep?! WooHoo!!
Ground Control: Can you here me now?
UoSAT-2/UO-11: BEEP!!
Ground Control: Gooood!

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:4, Funny)

by slipgun ( 316092 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @07:03PM (#8434642)

Now listen to me, sonny. I work for the SIS, and I don't want you to ever repeat this story again. What happened was secret then, and is now. You may find your life getting a little more difficult if you tell anyone else, you see what I mean? Keep quiet.

I've ordered Taco to pull your post immediately. Remember, if you tell anyone else, we'll find you. I hear Belmarsh isn't too pleasant at this time of year.

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:3, Funny)

by slipgun ( 316092 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @07:05PM (#8434662)

Now listen to me, sonny. I work for the SIS, and I don't want you to ever repeat this story again. What happened was secret then, and is now. You may find your life getting a little more difficult if you tell anyone else, you see what I mean? Keep quiet.

I've ordered Taco to pull your post immediately. Remember, if you tell anyone else, we'll find you. I hear Belmarsh isn't too pleasant at this time of year.

DAMN, I meant to post that anonymously. Now identity as a top-level agent trying to infilitrate Slashdot has been revealed.

Re:If it was... (Score:2, Funny)

by SEE ( 7681 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @08:05PM (#8435147) Homepage

Well theoretically yes, but, the matches would be so perfect [realdoll.com] as to eliminate the thrill of romantic conquest.

Re:Umm... (Score:2, Funny)

by 3dfxoldtimer ( 755922 ) writes: on Monday March 01, 2004 @10:49PM (#8436362)

So your "Equipment" still works but your eye sight is shot?

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Not for a few more minutes... (Score:4, Funny)

I bet... (Score:2, Funny)

Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

After it is /.ed (~60 meg video!) (Score:4, Funny)

Re:I bet... (Score:3, Funny)

Slashdotting imminent (Score:5, Funny)

If it was... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Slashdotting imminent (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Not for a few more minutes... (Score:5, Funny)

1984 (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

20 years uptime (Score:4, Funny)

hair? (Score:5, Funny)

Watching a slashdot happen... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:1984 (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Not quite as amazing as Oscar 7 (Score:2, Funny)

Re:1984 (Score:3, Funny)

Not only do I remember the PS/2, ... (Score:5, Funny)

Fashion statement (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:5, Funny)

1984 was so long ago (Score:5, Funny)

20 years alright (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Slashdotting imminent (Score:3, Funny)

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Not only do I remember the PS/2, ... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Life expectancy (Score:3, Funny)

Re:1984 (Score:5, Funny)

Congrats! But... (Score:1, Funny)

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:4, Funny)

Re:FIRST POST! (Score:3, Funny)

Re:If it was... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Umm... (Score:2, Funny)

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