Thirty five years ago yesterday, we could only imagine the view from the surface of another world. But Russia’s Venera 9 probe changed all that, beaming back the first ever photo of another planet – 40 million kilometres away.
NASA, huh? Since the halcyon days of Kennedy and the shuttle program it’s sputtered slightly, thanks in no small part to unnecessary wars, poor economics and other earthly foibles. Also: explaining its purpose, especially as it relates to the layperson.
Like a massive stone puzzle, the Great Pyramid has refused to give up all of its secrets. One of the last are two shafts out of the “Queen’s Chamber”. Purpose? Unknown, even to this day. Robots to the rescue.
Avatar put me to sleep, but I admire James Cameron’s thirst for new film technologies. Now I admire him even more after he convinced NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to put back the 3D camera in Curiosity, the next Mars rover.