The good thing is that this time the probe was supposed to strike the planet.
Europe’s first spacecraft to the moon ended its three-year mission Sunday with a planned crash, hitting its target after ground controllers had to maneuver it around a looming crater rim.
The SMART-1 spacecraft slammed into volcanic plain called the Lake of Excellence at 1 1/4 miles per second right on time. The impact was captured by observers on Earth, and scientists hoped the resulting cloud of dust and debris would provide clues to the geologic composition of the site.
What we really need is a true international space effort above petty politics sharing resorces and knowledge with a mandate to get us up and out. It would be even better if it were a commercial effort. < /pipe dream>
Most of the great explorers in human history were either looking for economic and political gain or was financially backed by those looking to exploit new found wealth. I’m not saying that many people don’t have wanderlust, but that desire didn’t get them ships, crews and stores. Until a profit can be realized, space exploration will be marginalized. It’s too expensive from this gravity well.
If there is one thing we should have learned from history, exploration for commercial gain has failed the target territory. It has been only when the exploration has been led by the military has any scientific benefit been truly realized.
I don’t think there would be any benefit in waiting for commercial applications to lead the way into space. It is nothing for the Federal Government to drop $10 Billion while that would bankrupt almost every privately held company in existence.
CORPS NEVEr take the first step…
they want someone ELSE to make the product and market FIRST, then they ROB you of the product.
You think its any difference with space??? NOT…
Until they show its Cheap enough, and sellable at a CHEAP cost, they WONT do it…As they cant mark it up 1000%..
Columbus was a mercenary, an inept one at that. But it wasn’t what he was trying to do, it was what he did. I’m a little vague on the history so I couldn’t say with any certitude whether he banged Isabella or not, but he was searching for a quick way to the Orient when he bumped into North America, and the rest is, as they say, History.
Perhaps circumstances such as these will present themselve to future explorers and their patrons, and someone else’s name will ring down through the centuries for “bumping” into something in space, maybe something like a pass through wormhole that won’t leave your heart in San Francisco whilst sending the rest of you to Andromeda.
Am amazed that this did not end in a fireball as Japan’s earlier moon attempt. Surely someone took his eye off the ball. Harrumph.