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The MECA story, A place for speculation
Stu
post Jul 31 2008, 10:22 PM
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Seriously, hasn't anyone else got any thoughts (dismissive or otherwise) on the "Have you briefed the President's Science Advisor?" (re MECA) question by C Covault? I am NOT going all woo-woo here, don't worry, I just thought it was an odd thing to ask... To my ears it sounded like C C was suggesting, subtly, to the panel that he had heard "something" about the MECA analysis and wanted them to comment. The question was brushed aside - rather uncomfortably I thought - and the discussion quickly moved on, but it seemed like a bit of a Moment to me. He actually began, if I remember correctly, by asking where the "MECA guys" were, asking if they had "been hidden under the table"... cue uncomfortable laughs from the panel...

Again, I have to stress, in case anyone thinks I'm 'suggesting' anything, I'm not getting all Muldur here, I was just struck by how out of the blue the question was, and wondered if anyone has any thoughts on it...


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nprev
post Aug 1 2008, 09:35 PM
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Can I call you by your decimal equivalent, "105"? tongue.gif (Cool username, BTW!)

One possibility that just occurred to me is that MECA may have found carbonates in abundance, though obviously they've been mixed rather well into the soil given that they haven't been detected from orbit.



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ilbasso
post Aug 2 2008, 02:19 AM
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QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 1 2008, 05:35 PM) *
Can I call you by your decimal equivalent, "105"? tongue.gif (Cool username, BTW!)


I think you should think in hexadecimal for the solution to the nickname. His avatar then makes sense too.

Edit: Sorry, I was slow on the uptake that you already got it. It has been a long week and I'm tired!!


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Aussie
post Aug 2 2008, 02:43 AM
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QUOTE (ilbasso @ Aug 2 2008, 03:19 AM) *
His avatar then makes sense too.


Hey, I had missed that. laugh.gif

Trouble is that this smart alec technique by Covault has already stirred up some expectations (and led to some some startling revelations on some of the more speculative forums). Dissatisfaction exists where outcomes don't meet expectations and I don't think Covault has done anyone any favours, particularly not the mission team.
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Paul Fjeld
post Aug 2 2008, 03:32 AM
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Covault is a real professional who has earned some very deep connections. He has a rep. He's not going to throw it away on some silly speculation.

I also know he is really keen on Mars and loved his time "embedded" with the MER team. I suspect his perhaps mischievous question at the press conference might have been a little tweak, but how should one ask that question knowing now what Craig was preparing for publication? (Personally, I thought Smith slapped him down a bit during one of the earlier conferences - and it sure didn't look like he enjoyed this question.)

As for the White House - of course NASA doesn't want them to read about really great discoveries in the newspapers. I thought, in government, your masters are >always< in the loop. Griffin should know what's coming down the pike, no? He'd need to tell his boss, just like he got told by his subordinates. Naiveté?? Ho, Ho! (yes)

I'm betting the news will be better than expected from this mission. Maybe the best news from any Mars mission so far. I'll say a 4 on a scale from 0 (ruddy dead moonlike) to 10 (there is a fossil). Water is a 3, actual real life: 500. Make your own scale!

EDIT: and by 4 I mean Mars can support Earth life at a chemical level. Still thinking about 5-9...
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Posts in this topic
- Stu   The MECA story   Jul 31 2008, 10:22 PM
- - elakdawalla   I've heard some very vague rumor to the effect...   Jul 31 2008, 10:31 PM
- - dmg   A) My take on Craig Covault's question about M...   Jul 31 2008, 10:34 PM
- - ElkGroveDan   QUOTE (Stu @ Jul 31 2008, 02:22 PM) He ac...   Jul 31 2008, 10:36 PM
|- - Stu   QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Jul 31 2008, 11:36 P...   Jul 31 2008, 10:40 PM
|- - mars loon   QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Jul 31 2008, 10:36 P...   Aug 1 2008, 12:15 AM
- - Stu   Thanks Emily, that's very interesting. I can...   Jul 31 2008, 10:39 PM
- - Sunspot   Presidential advisor's eh??? All very mysterio...   Jul 31 2008, 11:16 PM
- - jmjawors   Alright... stupid question time. What difficultie...   Jul 31 2008, 11:31 PM
- - belleraphon1   Agree the MECA team has not had serious problems. ...   Aug 1 2008, 01:37 AM
|- - 1101001   I put a notice of this in the MECA topic, but Cova...   Aug 1 2008, 08:34 PM
- - Stu   Thanks 01 (is it ok if I call you "01"? ...   Aug 1 2008, 09:26 PM
- - TheChemist   Hmm, the plot thickens... Did they found indicati...   Aug 1 2008, 09:33 PM
- - nprev   Can I call you by your decimal equivalent, "1...   Aug 1 2008, 09:35 PM
|- - ilbasso   QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 1 2008, 05:35 PM) Can ...   Aug 2 2008, 02:19 AM
|- - Aussie   QUOTE (ilbasso @ Aug 2 2008, 03:19 AM) Hi...   Aug 2 2008, 02:43 AM
|- - Paul Fjeld   Covault is a real professional who has earned some...   Aug 2 2008, 03:32 AM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 2 2008, 04:32 AM)...   Aug 2 2008, 08:34 AM
- - nprev   Fred, to answer your question...no, it's not c...   Aug 1 2008, 09:57 PM
- - djellison   Lots of speculative posts in various threads. A ...   Aug 1 2008, 10:42 PM
- - Oersted   WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!! Oops,...   Aug 1 2008, 11:23 PM
- - nprev   Well, as I just mentioned to a noted forum member,...   Aug 1 2008, 11:34 PM
- - PDP8E   my best guess ** methane ** the natural output...   Aug 1 2008, 11:37 PM
- - jmknapp   Here's an MP3 clip of Craig Covault's ques...   Aug 1 2008, 11:44 PM
|- - 1101001   QUOTE (jmknapp @ Aug 1 2008, 04:44 PM) Do...   Aug 2 2008, 12:43 AM
- - nprev   I would be extremely cautious about reading more i...   Aug 2 2008, 01:00 AM
|- - 1101001   QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 1 2008, 06:00 PM) Bott...   Aug 2 2008, 01:17 AM
|- - nprev   QUOTE (1101001 @ Aug 1 2008, 06:17 PM) Ma...   Aug 2 2008, 01:28 AM
|- - Stu   QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 2 2008, 02:28 AM) This...   Aug 2 2008, 05:57 AM
- - vjkane   Check out http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.ht...   Aug 2 2008, 02:35 AM
- - nprev   Mmm...seems like a pretty good analysis from here,...   Aug 2 2008, 03:46 AM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 1 2008, 11:46 PM) Didn...   Aug 2 2008, 04:14 AM
|- - nprev   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 1 2008, 09:14 PM)...   Aug 2 2008, 04:26 AM
- - Pavel   I guess it's a nitrogen compound. Ammonia per...   Aug 2 2008, 03:56 AM
|- - nprev   That sure sounds like a good guess, Pavel. AFAIK, ...   Aug 2 2008, 04:11 AM
|- - Reed   QUOTE (Pavel @ Aug 1 2008, 08:56 PM) I gu...   Aug 2 2008, 07:02 AM
- - bcory   maybe they found an amino acid.. Or just an amine...   Aug 2 2008, 04:20 AM
|- - Paul Fjeld   One other point re: the press conference. Personal...   Aug 2 2008, 04:41 AM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 2 2008, 05:41 AM)...   Aug 2 2008, 08:26 AM
||- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 2 2008, 03:26 AM) ...   Aug 2 2008, 03:02 PM
||- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 2 2008, 03:26 AM) ...   Aug 2 2008, 03:16 PM
||- - fredk   QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 2 2008, 09:26 AM) ...   Aug 2 2008, 03:53 PM
|- - jmknapp   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 1 2008, 11:41 PM)...   Aug 2 2008, 11:19 AM
- - jmjawors   Nitrogen was my thought as well. They specificall...   Aug 2 2008, 04:28 AM
- - nprev   Hmm. Your comment kicked my brain, Jim. How do N...   Aug 2 2008, 04:47 AM
- - Stu   I may be in a minority here (no change there then...   Aug 2 2008, 09:29 AM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 2 2008, 04:29 AM) And ag...   Aug 2 2008, 03:21 PM
- - nprev   Stu, when I used the term UMSF before I wasn't...   Aug 2 2008, 12:54 PM
|- - Stu   QUOTE Stu, when I used the term UMSF before I wasn...   Aug 2 2008, 01:32 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 2 2008, 06:32 AM) The st...   Aug 2 2008, 06:05 PM
||- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Aug 2 2008, 01:05 PM)...   Aug 2 2008, 06:07 PM
||- - djellison   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Aug 2 2008, 07:05 PM)...   Aug 2 2008, 07:00 PM
||- - dvandorn   QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 2 2008, 02:00 PM) ...   Aug 2 2008, 09:21 PM
||- - PFK   One minute it was all about ice delivery to ovens,...   Aug 2 2008, 09:26 PM
||- - Stu   QUOTE (PFK @ Aug 2 2008, 10:26 PM) One mi...   Aug 2 2008, 09:34 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 2 2008, 08:32 AM) Shudde...   Aug 2 2008, 06:06 PM
- - imipak   Talk about admin headaches - it can't be much ...   Aug 2 2008, 04:18 PM
- - nprev   Good post, Fred. No, I don't blame Covault (th...   Aug 2 2008, 04:41 PM
- - Stu   Coverage of this story on Universe Today...   Aug 2 2008, 05:21 PM
- - nprev   Er....let's not add to the admin's headach...   Aug 2 2008, 06:31 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (nprev @ Aug 2 2008, 02:31 PM) Star...   Aug 2 2008, 07:12 PM
- - Stu   That's a great shame, because I find NASAWATCH...   Aug 2 2008, 06:47 PM
- - stevesliva   I was enjoying both the speculation and the meta c...   Aug 2 2008, 07:15 PM
- - centsworth_II   Scientists face increasing pressure from intereste...   Aug 2 2008, 08:08 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (centsworth_II @ Aug 2 2008, 04:08 ...   Aug 2 2008, 09:07 PM
|- - centsworth_II   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 2 2008, 05:07 PM)...   Aug 2 2008, 09:52 PM
- - djellison   One thing's for sure - it's going to be an...   Aug 2 2008, 08:25 PM
- - nprev   ...good one, PFK! In a way, I'm honored.....   Aug 2 2008, 09:34 PM
- - gpurcell   Just saw a post on this on the general political d...   Aug 2 2008, 09:39 PM
- - nprev   Oh, crap. Probably not long at all; propogation ti...   Aug 2 2008, 09:41 PM
- - Stu   Well, it's no huge surprise is it? Once the me...   Aug 2 2008, 09:51 PM
|- - jmknapp   QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 2 2008, 05:51 PM) Well, ...   Aug 3 2008, 01:39 AM
- - belleraphon1   For myself, I was just surprised by Craig Covault...   Aug 3 2008, 01:14 AM
- - dvandorn   I dunno... a long time ago in a galaxy far, far a...   Aug 3 2008, 01:49 AM
- - andrea   Nasawatch.com comments on the phoenix twitter: ...   Aug 3 2008, 06:16 AM
- - CosmicRocker   Hehe! It's so much fun to speculate about...   Aug 3 2008, 07:19 AM
- - Sunspot   Well the twitter page seem to refute ALL of this s...   Aug 3 2008, 10:17 AM
- - djellison   QUOTE Reports claiming there was a White House bri...   Aug 3 2008, 10:48 AM
|- - nprev   QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 3 2008, 03:48 AM) ...   Aug 3 2008, 01:29 PM
- - marsbug   I go away for one week to move house and everyone ...   Aug 3 2008, 11:57 AM
- - Stu   Oh, definitely hype, but hype of a mysterious, shi...   Aug 3 2008, 02:01 PM
- - nprev   I completely agree. It's going to be intere...   Aug 3 2008, 02:24 PM
- - jmjawors   Has anyone seen any of these news reports implying...   Aug 3 2008, 02:36 PM
- - Stu   I think it's just the same story but spun a li...   Aug 3 2008, 02:59 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   I just read this on Keith's site: "Of co...   Aug 3 2008, 03:22 PM
- - nprev   Of course there's life on Mars. Chuck Norris i...   Aug 3 2008, 03:04 PM
- - jmjawors   Actually, Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; t...   Aug 3 2008, 03:17 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (jmjawors @ Aug 3 2008, 11:17 AM) m...   Aug 3 2008, 03:30 PM
|- - Paul Fjeld   QUOTE (Paul Fjeld @ Aug 3 2008, 10:30 AM)...   Aug 3 2008, 04:14 PM
- - tasp   {Let me point out I have no inside information, an...   Aug 3 2008, 03:20 PM
- - nprev   Well...let's just put it in perspective: Is an...   Aug 3 2008, 03:33 PM
- - Greg Hullender   Does anyone have a feel for how significant it is ...   Aug 3 2008, 03:51 PM
|- - nprev   QUOTE (Greg Hullender @ Aug 3 2008, 08:51...   Aug 3 2008, 05:04 PM
- - imipak   Well, who knows. If there's anything more to t...   Aug 3 2008, 04:46 PM
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