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Old 18-07-2015, 08:02 AM   #28
Moby Vic
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Orlando, FL, USA
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Default Re: The Pluto Express - New Horizons Project

Quote:
Originally Posted by MITCHAY View Post
The thing is the average person does not appreciate what it all means. They see no point in it all. The very fact they are able to do it all means something to me.

We're talking about something that apart from being able to build the thing at all, they need to build it in time to fit a launch window that falls in line with a timeline we have no control over. They have one shot at it, it either works or doesn't. I find that almost unbelievable.
Sorry for the English units here, but I'm American--it's "only" about 93 million miles from the Earth to the Sun. It's about 3 billion miles from the Earth to Pluto. The distance alone is staggering. And then Pluto isn't a very big target. And it's moving. And the Earth is moving. And the probe had to move for 9 years.

The average person doesn't seem to be able to understand how to maintain a checkbook balance, so I'd say the math involved is somewhat intimidating.
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