[X] My Assistant

[Cugel]

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Managing_...ssions_999.html

Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program, spoke at the recent Viking anniversary celebration. One remarkable quote:

"Considering how long the Spirit and Opportunity rovers have lasted beyond their design lifetimes, it almost boggles the mind to think how long MSL could last. It may be there to greet the astronauts when they arrive on Mars."

That's what I call optimism.
I always thought that the lifespan of an RTG was pretty predictable and that in case of MSL it lasted for about 2 earth years. Maybe he's talking about the solar array powered version?

[nprev]

Well, the good thing, as Ed observed, is that UMSF RTGs are obviously drifting off the radar screens of these groups: the sky hasn't fallen, nor does such an event seem likely based on past performance. The entire issue is no longer a plausible casus bellum for them, and therefore also no longer a focus item except in token terms; good news.

Let's keep it that way...low visibilty has many advantages!

[dvandorn]

Well, the good thing, as Ed observed, is that UMSF RTGs are obviously drifting off the radar screens of these groups: the sky hasn't fallen, nor does such an event seem likely based on past performance. The entire issue is no longer a plausible casus bellum for them, and therefore also no longer a focus item except in token terms; good news.

Let's keep it that way...low visibilty has many advantages!

You really think UMSF use of RTGs, et al, has been successful and uneventful enough to push them off the anti-nuke crowd's radars? I will remind you that, in their last gasp at trying to look important to themselves, these same people INSISTED that Cassini be crashed in Saturn upon arrival instead of placed into orbit, since (they insisted) anything else meant that Cassini would eventually return to near-Earth space and pose a COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE RISK of a collision.

I'm not kidding.

-the other Doug