"Should the Space Program Join Forces with Reality TV?"
No.
For one thing, it would encourage the space program to be filled with internal strife to improve ratings.
More importantly, this is the mistake that jackass JFK made in the first place, that got us into the situation we're in with NASA today. Making the space program into a public media circus = fail, because the general public thinks it's boring.
-Kle.
When I was in Johannesburg a few years back, they had a channel that broadcast Big Brother South Africa 24 hours a day. In real time. And wouldn't you know it, but I had people constantly come over to watch. I was actually experiencing insomnia at the time, so I would sometimes pass the late-night hours watching night-vision footage of a bunch of people sleeping. It was strangely comforting.
All of which is to say, don't underestimate people's penchant for watching absolutely nothing happen on a screen. Though I suppose they could spice things up with an astronaut confessional booth or a boxful of space puppies...
If it's going to be a successful reality TV show, the temp on the ship will have to be warm enough to warrant everyone wear bathing suits, and the ratio of female to male astronauts be 2:1.
@WestMantooth: ...wait what? are you talking about people WATCHING OTHERS possibly dying a million miles from Earth?
I thought this article was talking about filming the 105 day test and not the actual mission.
@jp182:
I know.
I'm talking about about people not caring about a fake Mission to Mars training more than the thrill of the real thing. I don't think the astronauts would be bored by the actual mission.
Practicing just sucks. No reality show crap needed.
The ESA's probe (ie not NASA) will have an orbital period of 150 days. Which you've just confirmed. NASA's probe has varying orbital periods depending on what orbital path its taking (ie see what I wrote).
150 years isn't anywhere near correct. Its not days either.
The entire mission has a complete cycle time of 24 orbits totalling 6.4 years. The final 3 orbits within 9.5 Rs or 8.4 Rs* from the Sun's surface occur over a period of 88 days.
*Rs = 6.96x10^5 km, or (6612000 km and 5846400 km respectively)
For some reason, 15 inches is a bit thin to me. And we're sending a seemingly flimsy metal satellite to it with only a 15 inch heat shield? I dunno... I don't know the chemistry of the material they use but it seems they would use like, 4 feet-thick of this stuff. I mean it's the frickin sun!
08/05/09
No.
For one thing, it would encourage the space program to be filled with internal strife to improve ratings.
More importantly, this is the mistake that jackass JFK made in the first place, that got us into the situation we're in with NASA today. Making the space program into a public media circus = fail, because the general public thinks it's boring.
-Kle.
08/04/09
All of which is to say, don't underestimate people's penchant for watching absolutely nothing happen on a screen. Though I suppose they could spice things up with an astronaut confessional booth or a boxful of space puppies...
08/04/09
cause in space no one can hear you scream.
08/04/09
"Whatever, I dont care what you think. I'm not here to make space friends!"
08/04/09
08/04/09
I'll take him with any hairdo!
08/04/09
08/04/09
08/04/09
08/04/09
08/04/09
I thought this article was talking about filming the 105 day test and not the actual mission.
08/04/09
I know.
I'm talking about about people not caring about a fake Mission to Mars training more than the thrill of the real thing. I don't think the astronauts would be bored by the actual mission.
Practicing just sucks. No reality show crap needed.
08/04/09
08/04/09
Thanks for spoiling it for the rest of us! lol
04/29/09
04/29/09
I looked at the Telegraph article this links to, and THEY got it wrong, too.
I'm going to email them and ask where their info came from.
Here's another link to real info. Its a Power Point presentation about the mission. May take a while to download, but pretty cool.
[zeus.nascom.nasa.gov]
04/29/09
Here's the real thing.
[www.esa.int]
It says "150 days" right there.
I'm wondering if the error originated with the Telegraph writer or if he copied off someone else's paper.
04/29/09
04/29/09
The ESA's probe (ie not NASA) will have an orbital period of 150 days. Which you've just confirmed. NASA's probe has varying orbital periods depending on what orbital path its taking (ie see what I wrote).
04/29/09
04/29/09
The entire mission has a complete cycle time of 24 orbits totalling 6.4 years. The final 3 orbits within 9.5 Rs or 8.4 Rs* from the Sun's surface occur over a period of 88 days.
*Rs = 6.96x10^5 km, or (6612000 km and 5846400 km respectively)
Source: [solarprobe.gsfc.nasa.gov]
04/29/09
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04/29/09
04/29/09
04/29/09
04/29/09
"Solar Probe?"
"Nah... not bombastic enough."
"Solar Probe Plus?"
"Fuck yea, bro!" *slams down a Corona*
04/29/09
Should I just wait for the reality show?
04/29/09
"WHO ATE MY RECONSTITUTED FRIES???"
04/29/09
Next time on The Real World: Sol
Bo has a blow-up. "Stop it, stop it, just stop touching me man!"
04/29/09
04/29/09
"I keep waiting on Candice to notice me, but she never does. I mean, there are only like seven of us up here..."
04/29/09
04/29/09
"Told the bitch not to disrespect me or it'd be like "Blam! Out the airlock."
04/29/09
04/29/09
04/29/09