Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Hitching a Ride on 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko

Rosetta, the European Space Agency's probe, is preparing to hitch a ride on a comet.

Ten years after launching, the Rosetta's reached its goal.
In November it will give the dice another roll;
When they'll try to put a lander safely on the ground -
Ride the comet towards the sun and on its trip around.

Wasn't all that long ago a comet sighting meant
Kings were born or dying; wise men followed where they went.
Now, with thanks to science and some complicated math,
Someday wise men might attempt to shift a comet's path.

How is that for progress, people? Dinosaurs be damned...
Didn't have a chance back when a giant comet slammed
Into Earth from outer-space...  Perhaps we humans will.
And, if nothing else, the coming ride should be a thrill.

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