News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Opinion

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
August 12, 2012

EDITORIAL: When America functions as a team, wondrous things occur

Mars rover success reminds us of what we’re capable of

The Tribune-Star

The incredible NASA rover Curiosity would not be exploring Mars right now without a spirit of cooperation. Teamwork.

Any project as ambitious as this involves disagreements and hard choices in advance of the mission. Scientists and engineers debate whether certain technological breakthroughs should be attempted. Astronomers lend advice on the logistics of the flight and the climate present on the planet. Planners and administrators assess the costs of components and experiments. Eventually, leaders weigh the information, expertise and diverse opinions, and decide on a course of action.

At that point, the participants must pull together to succeed.

NASA did just that, allowing its Curiosity rover to defy the physical odds it faced. The spacecraft carrying the planetary all-terrain, robotic vehicle — loaded with 17 high-tech cameras, and 10 scientific instruments (including a laser-firing rock analyzer) — had to traverse a 352-million-mile journey from Earth to Mars. It also had to survive a breathtaking plummet through the wispy thin Martian atmosphere, and decelerate from 13,200 mph to 1.7 mph in just seven minutes to prevent crashing the $2.5-billion machinery into the dusty red planet. NASA launched Curiosity on Nov. 26, 2011. It landed at 1:32 a.m. Monday, nearly eight months later.

Safely.

And, within one minute of the NASA team’s estimates set almost a year ago.

Utterly amazing. Talk about precision.

President Obama aptly called it “an unprecedented feat of technology.” And that was just the journey. As Curiosity gradually tests and activates its computers and mechanisms, the rover will begin probing a sister planet in groundbreaking fashion. Its photography should provide panoramic, color images of Mars’ desert-like landscape, and vast mountains and craters. As a laboratory on six wheels, Curiosity also will analyze rocks and soil on the spot, and transmit its findings back to Earth, helping scientists determine whether life forms as tiny as microbes could have existed there. The nuclear-powered craft is expected to function for at least two years.

Imagine if key members of the NASA team, during the mission, fought against its success. Instead of cooperating once the pre-flight arguments had been waged and settled, what if factions of the aeronautical agency’s talent pool created obstacles to the plan? Such dysfunction and gridlock would have doomed Curiosity’s pinpoint landing and the execution of its cutting-edge experiments.

Fortunately, that’s not what happened.

The world is witnessing a sparkling example of American ingenuity, guts and, yes, teamwork in that Mars voyager. From China to Canada, and Mexico to Mozambique, earthlings are seeing that America can accomplish the formerly impossible. Curiosity also should serve as a reminder to U.S. citizens that the domestic hurdles we face can be surmounted, if our leaders will ever let the dust settle enough on pressing issues to then work toward solutions.

It is possible. If we can put a man on the moon, or a rover on Mars, America can fix its problems.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla. Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014 Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Raw: Suspects Butt Dial 911, Lead to Arrest Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
NDN Video
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school Robert Pattinson Moves Out RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone" Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News