Touchdown

[Blxz]

Ever so slightly off-topic but this is a forum with some clued up people so it could interest some.
Just watched the live NASA feed of the Mars mission. Touched down like 20 minutes ago. I felt this was a pretty awesome achievement. Anyone else watch it?

[SoFarSoGood]

Yep. Great job by the team.

[Tux]

I wanted to but sadly the time difference was too great...

[Blxz]

I wanted to but sadly the time difference was too great...

Bummer. Luckily here is 10+GMT it was like 2 or 3pm that all the stuff started happening. Its great living in the future sometimes.

[huth]

now beware alien Marsatae... Curiosity's laser beam won't help :P

[Brennus]

We do live in an amazing age of discovery and technology, it is just a pity that we have yet to develop true eunomia and isonomia in society as the Ancient Greeks sought (yes both a Marxist lament and an attempt to keep this thread mildly EB orientated so it's not closed).

[vartan]

JPL isn't too far from where I live. But I believe the live landing feed was early in the morning. Too early. I wasn't planning on losing sleep over it, but I read up on it this morning. It's some exciting news and I'm looking forward to some great pics (more interested in the art, but I'm sure the team is eager for scientific findings).

[Tux]

Exactly my case vartan.
All this technology behind it and the Mars probe will do less than 20km, iirc, in around 1-2 year(s)...

Now that's speed.

[vartan]

That's pretty fast compared to some living organisms, such as the snail. I was wondering how I could ask questions related to both EB and to the topic we're discussing. Two things came to mind. First, if this thread is called touchdown, how do you think ancient factions (those in EB) would react to American football? Which factions would be dynastic champions? Second, what if these factions came across Curiosity? What would they think of it? What would they think of any electronic devices?

[DaciaJC]

Second, what if these factions came across Curiosity? What would they think of it? What would they think of any electronic devices?

Kill it with fire?

[Memnon]

Which factions would be dynastic champions? Second, what if these factions came across Curiosity? What would they think of it? What would they think of any electronic devices?

Some new type of god to worship and offer the heads of enemies to? But much more likely they would smash it with a club/stab (admittedly I'm not sure what to call beating it with swords) it/crush it beneath the feet of your mighty war elephant/throw it in the sea/destroy it in some way most representative of their culture.

[Blxz]

I'm not so sure. Without a doubt any 'civilized' nation would pull it apart and try to figure it out. The physical mechanics they would probably understand at least. But I don't think they would destroy it outright. Some of the steppe factions....well they might destroy it. Or just avoid it.

I actually wonder what Archimedes would make of it if he found the machine.

[Vilkku92]

Break it apart, put it back together and wonder why it doesn't work anymore? Say "do not disturb my circles" and continue working with his mathematics? Cry "What the Hades is that thing?" in terror? Start dancing like a happy miner in an old western while singing in the rain?

Wonder how this thread came to this in just 13 posts?

[moonburn]

romans would be the greatest defenders in american football they had the team effort menthality but the greatest heroes would be the damm barbarians with all their individuality

greeks would probably come up with some wierd analyses and then invent statistics but in the end germans would be the dinastic winners imho they had the physical prowess and the team talent to pull it trough i mean in the end american football is just about bashing others altough the lack of a club would make them confuse at 1sT (LACROSSE on the other hand they would love it and would always win by having the other team forfeit by lack of available players in the 1st 14 minutes of the game)

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Any wheeled probe would be called a 'metal monster' if any ancient people saw it moving on its own. Machines in the ancient world did not move without man or animal power - except ships under sail, of course, but solar panels are angled differently to sails. They'd be frightened of it and smash it until they were sure it was 'dead', before ripping it apart and trying to find out more about it.

[Vilkku92]

romans would be the greatest defenders in american football they had the team effort menthality but the greatest heroes would be the damm barbarians with all their individuality

greeks would probably come up with some wierd analyses and then invent statistics but in the end germans would be the dinastic winners imho they had the physical prowess and the team talent to pull it trough i mean in the end american football is just about bashing others altough the lack of a club would make them confuse at 1sT (LACROSSE on the other hand they would love it and would always win by having the other team forfeit by lack of available players in the 1st 14 minutes of the game)

That's not football. That's Blood bowl!

Oh, and Germans wouldn't be confused by the lack of clubs. They would just use those wrestling maneuvers they learned during their uncle's wedding.