They are exploring Mars, we are dabbling in chickenshit
I am jealous. As a fan of space science, I really, really am jealous.
In November this year, NASA will be launching its Mars Science Laboratory mission. The mission aims to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. Curiosity is expected to land on Mars in August 2012. [those of you who do not know what Mars is, please go here]
The Curiosity is a rover that will explore the surface of Mars over the next two years. Weighing almost a tonne, it is basically a high-tech laboratory on wheels. Its robotic arm will be equipped with a microscope powerful enough to allow it to see fossils of microorganisms should they exist in the rocks or soil on Mars. It will be armed with a laser capable of vaporizing rocks from up to 7 metres and a spectrometer to analyse the chemical composition of the vapour thus produced. Other instruments include a (Canadian made) alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, a (Russian made) neutron spectrometer, and an (American made) X-ray diffraction instrument [these are mostly to analyze the compositions of gases and soils]. It will also carry an advanced (American-French made) gas analyser that will not only sniff for organic gases such as methane but be able to distinguish whether the gases are of geochemical or biological origin. A (Spanish made) meteorological package will allow it to measure atmospheric humidity, pressure, wind velocity, air and ground temperature and ultraviolet radiation. Finally Curiosity will be equipped with an (American-German made) instrument called RAD which will measure and characterize the radiation spectrum on the Martian surface. You can read more about Curiosity here (Wikipedia).
Artist impression of Curiousity (source : wikipedia)
Now, all you monyet readers, just think aboutthis for a moment. Curiosity will travel from Earth to Mars (> 100 million km **) in about 6 months. Scientists from Earth will guide the craft to land safely of the Martian surface. Once it has landed, Curiosity will deploy all its gadgets and instruments and start working for at least 2 years of our time all the while transmitting zillions bits of data back to Earth. All the data will improve our understanding of the planet and help plan for the next expeditions. [BTW pls cut the crap about space exploration being a waste of money. It is in our human genes to explore. If our forefathers did not explore, all of us will still be living in the Rift Valley in Africa] [** distance depends on the respective locations of Earth and Mars on their orbits]
Another thing. Just look at the number of nations that are participating in this mission. Sophisticated instruments are coming from many different countries [I looked hard but couldnt find Malaysia anywhere on the list. I guess NASA does not see the need to make keropok lekur or teh tarik on the mission].
Those of you who might say wow finally we get to land something on Mars, you will be surprised to know that the history of Mars exploration is actually pretty long.
The first successful visit to Mars was in July, 1965, (yes 1965, that's 46 years ago when Malaysians were still dabbling in chickenshit) when the NASA's Mariner 4 flew by the planet. Then in November, 1971, Mariner 9 entered into orbit around Mars. The first objects to successfully land on the s! urface w ere two Soviet probes: Mars 2 on November 27 and Mars 3 on December 2, 1971, but both ceased communicating within seconds of landing. The NASAs two Viking modules successfully touched down in 1976 (we were still dabbling in chickenshit). The NASA Mars Pathfinder, carrying the Sojourner rover, landed on Mars in 1997.
The NASA Mars Odyssey entered Mars orbit in 2001 while the Mars Express (European Space Agency) reached Mars in 2003. In January 2004, the NASAs Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on the surface of Mars (and worked for almost 5 years). On March 10, 2006, the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probe arrived in orbit to conduct a two-year science survey. The Dawn spacecraft flew by Mars in February 2009 for a gravity assist on its way to investigate Vesta and then Ceres (two large objects in the asteroid belt). So you see, we know Mars rather well. [in fact I think NASA knows Mars better than most of us know Putrajaya]
Now some questions for all you monyets. While the American and European are doing all these space exploration and research, what are our people doing? When the American Mariner4 flew by Mars in 1965 (46 years ago) what were we doing then? When the Americans landed on the moon in 1969, what were we doing then? The American explored the Martian surface from 2004 2010 using Spirit and Opportunity rovers what were we doing then?
We have been dabbling in chickenshit, most of the time.
I can tell you that we Malaysians have been busy. We have got no time for science. We have got no time for research. We are busy people. Very busy.
. busy squabbling over chickenshit and petty stuff.
. busyfighting over wh! ose reli gion is better
. busyquarreling about which race is superior
. busydemanding for good governance from others when our own party is in shambles
. busycatching people who kiss or hold hands
. busymaking the longest satay in the world
. busygossiping over a RM 24 million diamond ring
. busypolymerizing others (or is it polystyrene or proselytizing, I never seem to get the word right)
If we, as a nation, are to make serious progress in science and technology, all the above shit has got to stop. The non-stop political bickering between the idiots atBN and the morons atPakatan is not helping anyone - it is only keeping the rakyat morale low. You think all the religious squabbling that is going on is going to make us better people? You think God is very happy? By now, most you should be well aware that countries that are obssessed with religion do not progress very much (if you don't know, go read Syed Akbar Ali's book The Club of Doom).
Progress in science and technology will not happen by chance. It require commitment, it requires investment, it requires focus. Investing in science and technology research makes a lot of sense and has a very good return on investment. We do not have to go to space - there are so many other areas that we could focus on. But all require commitment, investment and focus.
BUT we are not going to make much progress if the nation and its leaders dabble in chickenshit day in, day out. !
Monyet King also says
1. oohhh.. may be someone is hoping that the Americans or Russians will let one of our angkasawans pimp a ride on their mission to Mars if we buy RM 100 billion worth of weapons from them.
2. The alternative title of this article is "They are probing Mars, we are probing Saiful's ass"
In November this year, NASA will be launching its Mars Science Laboratory mission. The mission aims to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. Curiosity is expected to land on Mars in August 2012. [those of you who do not know what Mars is, please go here]
The Curiosity is a rover that will explore the surface of Mars over the next two years. Weighing almost a tonne, it is basically a high-tech laboratory on wheels. Its robotic arm will be equipped with a microscope powerful enough to allow it to see fossils of microorganisms should they exist in the rocks or soil on Mars. It will be armed with a laser capable of vaporizing rocks from up to 7 metres and a spectrometer to analyse the chemical composition of the vapour thus produced. Other instruments include a (Canadian made) alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, a (Russian made) neutron spectrometer, and an (American made) X-ray diffraction instrument [these are mostly to analyze the compositions of gases and soils]. It will also carry an advanced (American-French made) gas analyser that will not only sniff for organic gases such as methane but be able to distinguish whether the gases are of geochemical or biological origin. A (Spanish made) meteorological package will allow it to measure atmospheric humidity, pressure, wind velocity, air and ground temperature and ultraviolet radiation. Finally Curiosity will be equipped with an (American-German made) instrument called RAD which will measure and characterize the radiation spectrum on the Martian surface. You can read more about Curiosity here (Wikipedia).
Artist impression of Curiousity (source : wikipedia)
Now, all you monyet readers, just think aboutthis for a moment. Curiosity will travel from Earth to Mars (> 100 million km **) in about 6 months. Scientists from Earth will guide the craft to land safely of the Martian surface. Once it has landed, Curiosity will deploy all its gadgets and instruments and start working for at least 2 years of our time all the while transmitting zillions bits of data back to Earth. All the data will improve our understanding of the planet and help plan for the next expeditions. [BTW pls cut the crap about space exploration being a waste of money. It is in our human genes to explore. If our forefathers did not explore, all of us will still be living in the Rift Valley in Africa] [** distance depends on the respective locations of Earth and Mars on their orbits]
Another thing. Just look at the number of nations that are participating in this mission. Sophisticated instruments are coming from many different countries [I looked hard but couldnt find Malaysia anywhere on the list. I guess NASA does not see the need to make keropok lekur or teh tarik on the mission].
Those of you who might say wow finally we get to land something on Mars, you will be surprised to know that the history of Mars exploration is actually pretty long.
The first successful visit to Mars was in July, 1965, (yes 1965, that's 46 years ago when Malaysians were still dabbling in chickenshit) when the NASA's Mariner 4 flew by the planet. Then in November, 1971, Mariner 9 entered into orbit around Mars. The first objects to successfully land on the s! urface w ere two Soviet probes: Mars 2 on November 27 and Mars 3 on December 2, 1971, but both ceased communicating within seconds of landing. The NASAs two Viking modules successfully touched down in 1976 (we were still dabbling in chickenshit). The NASA Mars Pathfinder, carrying the Sojourner rover, landed on Mars in 1997.
The NASA Mars Odyssey entered Mars orbit in 2001 while the Mars Express (European Space Agency) reached Mars in 2003. In January 2004, the NASAs Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on the surface of Mars (and worked for almost 5 years). On March 10, 2006, the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probe arrived in orbit to conduct a two-year science survey. The Dawn spacecraft flew by Mars in February 2009 for a gravity assist on its way to investigate Vesta and then Ceres (two large objects in the asteroid belt). So you see, we know Mars rather well. [in fact I think NASA knows Mars better than most of us know Putrajaya]
Now some questions for all you monyets. While the American and European are doing all these space exploration and research, what are our people doing? When the American Mariner4 flew by Mars in 1965 (46 years ago) what were we doing then? When the Americans landed on the moon in 1969, what were we doing then? The American explored the Martian surface from 2004 2010 using Spirit and Opportunity rovers what were we doing then?
We have been dabbling in chickenshit, most of the time.
I can tell you that we Malaysians have been busy. We have got no time for science. We have got no time for research. We are busy people. Very busy.
. busy squabbling over chickenshit and petty stuff.
. busyfighting over wh! ose reli gion is better
. busyquarreling about which race is superior
. busydemanding for good governance from others when our own party is in shambles
. busycatching people who kiss or hold hands
. busymaking the longest satay in the world
. busygossiping over a RM 24 million diamond ring
. busypolymerizing others (or is it polystyrene or proselytizing, I never seem to get the word right)
If we, as a nation, are to make serious progress in science and technology, all the above shit has got to stop. The non-stop political bickering between the idiots atBN and the morons atPakatan is not helping anyone - it is only keeping the rakyat morale low. You think all the religious squabbling that is going on is going to make us better people? You think God is very happy? By now, most you should be well aware that countries that are obssessed with religion do not progress very much (if you don't know, go read Syed Akbar Ali's book The Club of Doom).
Progress in science and technology will not happen by chance. It require commitment, it requires investment, it requires focus. Investing in science and technology research makes a lot of sense and has a very good return on investment. We do not have to go to space - there are so many other areas that we could focus on. But all require commitment, investment and focus.
BUT we are not going to make much progress if the nation and its leaders dabble in chickenshit day in, day out. !
Monyet King also says
1. oohhh.. may be someone is hoping that the Americans or Russians will let one of our angkasawans pimp a ride on their mission to Mars if we buy RM 100 billion worth of weapons from them.
2. The alternative title of this article is "They are probing Mars, we are probing Saiful's ass"
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