Quote:
Originally Posted by Ether
Not to diminish the magnitude of the accomplishment in any way, but Mars is traveling through the solar system far faster than that comet1.
The accomplish is novel and impressive because of a host of other factors, including but not limited to its size, terrain, and orbit.
1at the time of landing
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Not to mention the chained gravity assists!
Earth to solar orbit, earth assist, mars assist, earth assist, asteroid flyby earth assist again, another asteroid flyby, then rendezvous with the comet. Planning a trajectory with 4 assists, 2 flybys, and final orbit in mind over a 12 year period is a very easy thing to screw up
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RIP David Shafer: you will be missed
Quote from my mentor: "Keep things as complex as necessary, and not a bit more." - Mike [more] 
17-11-2014, 09:57
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