The Engines Started
Jul 8, 2014 08:43:10 #
Imagine this. You buy a new car in 1978 and drive it several million miles. In 1987, you drive your car into the garage and turn it off. You leave it there till July, 2014, when you get in the driver's seat, turn the key, and it starts.
That's roughly what happened with the International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3), launched in 1978. Of course, it wasn't quite a simple as turning a key. There was so much change in technology during the intervening years, that scientists had to start virtually from scratch learning how to communicate with the satellite.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/36-year-old-nasa-probe-s-engines-successfully-fired-up-by-private-team/
That's roughly what happened with the International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3), launched in 1978. Of course, it wasn't quite a simple as turning a key. There was so much change in technology during the intervening years, that scientists had to start virtually from scratch learning how to communicate with the satellite.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/36-year-old-nasa-probe-s-engines-successfully-fired-up-by-private-team/
Jul 8, 2014 08:55:02 #
Jul 9, 2014 08:04:39 #
Jul 9, 2014 10:47:38 #
Clif
Loc: Central Ca.
Thanks Jerry, a lot more interesting than some of the so called intellectual debates found here.
Jul 9, 2014 11:35:49 #
Clif wrote:
Thanks Jerry, a lot more interesting than some of the so called intellectual debates found here.
I must have missed them. :D
Jul 9, 2014 20:33:27 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Imagine this. You buy a new car in 1978 and drive... (show quote)
Fantastic. In a way, your post reminded me of those who currently fly the B52 bomber. The pilots flying the B52 today were not even born when the B52's were first manufactured in the 1950's.
Thanks!
Jul 9, 2014 21:57:12 #
James Shaw wrote:
Fantastic. In a way, your post reminded me of those who currently fly the B52 bomber. The pilots flying the B52 today were not even born when the B52's were first manufactured in the 1950's.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I saw a bit on TV about the B52 a few years ago. One of the pilots was flying the same plane his father had flown.
You might be familiar with the Chesapeake bridge-tunnel. They used a special machine to build it decades ago. When it came time to put in a parallel stretch next to it, the son of that machine operator worked on the machine for the new section.
Jul 9, 2014 22:35:33 #
tlbuljac wrote:
Ho hum...another interesting subject to fall asleep with....yawn 😪
If the subject doesn't interest you why do you feel the need to post a negative response? :roll:
Jul 10, 2014 09:01:08 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I saw a bit on TV about the B52 a few years ago. One of the pilots was flying the same plane his father had flown.
You might be familiar with the Chesapeake bridge-tunnel. They used a special machine to build it decades ago. When it came time to put in a parallel stretch next to it, the son of that machine operator worked on the machine for the new section.
You might be familiar with the Chesapeake bridge-tunnel. They used a special machine to build it decades ago. When it came time to put in a parallel stretch next to it, the son of that machine operator worked on the machine for the new section.
Again, fantastic! Americans do build things that last, contrary to what I used to hear.
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