Want some space? Today humankind landed on a comet. And all the Internet buzzes. New sources, Twitter... it’s all light up like an early holiday tree.
We’ve landed on a non planetary, non lunar celestial object before. On Valentine’s Day 2001, NASA plopped a probe on the asteroid Eros. Indeed, a nice bit of cosmic irony. Certainly today’s landing will yield more irony of the cosmic sort.
Today, the Philae probe, carried by the Rosetta spacecraft, landed on Comet 67p/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko after a ten-year journey. The probe touched down at 16:02 U.T. Immediately reports came in that perhaps the probe’s anchors failed to deploy correctly. You’d think with Mars just off a conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn that digging into the core of a terrestrial underworld would be a reasonable goal. Evidently, with Mars approaching a square to Uranus, not so much for a celestial object. (Of course with events happening off the Earth plane, a heliocentric chart reveals real world status more succinctly).
In the by the way category, the comet’s position from the Earth’s point of view as of a few hours ago (could vary depending upon data source and time data was taken): 17 Capricorn 11.
It’s early yet. Details are still emerging and watchful eyes all over Earth root for the probe to succeed in extracting a sample from this comet. After all, it is believed by non-Creationists that life on Earth may have been the result of cometary seeding billions of years ago. Perhaps comet coma core samples will nail down the speculation.
It’s been a tough few weeks for space-related events. On October 28th, an Antares rocket targeting a rendezvous with the International Space Station was destroyed by mission control immediately after lift off because of rocket failure. Three days later, Virgin Galactic’s experimental spacecraft broke up in flight over the Mojave Desert. These accidents took place within orb of Mars approaching a conjunction to the asteroid Icarus in Capricorn.
Icarus, intoxicated by his gift of wings of wax and wood, could not wait to test his wings. Though cautioned not to fly too close to the Sun (a symbol of respecting realistic limitations), he did just that. His wings melted. He plummeted to Earth. Curiously, the Virgin Galactic accident occurred as the vehicle was in a flight condition known as feathering.
Regardless of what you feel about the value of space exploration, presently it is the news. There are theories that rocket exhaust punches irreparable holes in layers of Earth’s delicate atmosphere. These theories might be supported by atmospheric data. Depends who you might ask. Certainly, it is accepted as fact in the latest run of Star Trek TV shows. Despite atmospheric realities, space proponents argue the value of space exploration as seen by the products and materials developed and the insights gained as a result of space exploration. Claim proponents, we are far better off for it. Claim opponents, it’s one more nail in the delicate eco-system coffin of Earth.
At least, space exploration gives us good movies. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 recently reincarnated in film industry blogs because of Interstellar. A year ago there was Gravity and if you go back through the archives of IMDB.com, multitudes of space movies have been filmed. And these films intend to... inspire us to look up? Remain optimistic and adventure-receptive? Restore intrepid spark to our spirits? Wonder about the complexities and simplicity (take your pick) of all Creation? Live in awe and reverence? Seems like such films mean what a movie viewer wants them to mean.
Maybe it’s time for a Netflix binge of space exploration films.
It is ironic that Interstellar’s early box office days coincide with debate about the safety and sanity of space travel and exploration. Given the movie deals the clock-ticking need to find a new, habitable planet because the Earth is environmentally ruined, the theme is most apropos. In the United States the recent election placed politicians in power who disavow climate change with rabid religious fervor. And today, the day of Philae landing on Comet 67p, the United States and China reached an accord on climate change - the first of its kind in history. Ironic or awe-inspiring? Coincidental or cosmically fated?
Let’s go back to Comet 67p/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
The comet selected for our probing investigation takes 6.45 years to traverse the Sun in orbit. Of course, the orbit may be slightly modified by Earth’s invasion probe. We have no idea. A day on Comet 67p lasts 12.4 (or 12.7 hours depending upon data source) hours. Will the samples extracted reveal the mystery of life on Earth? If it does, how will that change collective perceptions of our place in the Universe?
There is the usual collection of conspiracy theories about Comet 67p. There are those who did not get enough mileage or parsecs of fear from forecasting doom regarding the Photon Belt, Planet X, Nibiru. It’s the same story, just the 2014 redeux. Surprisingly, no mass suicides have occurred in anticipation of the alien invasion certain to occur. After all, photos released by the KGB clearly reveal alien bases and weaponry on the far side of the comet’s head.
I’m sorry, when did the KGB cease operations and become the current Russian Spy agency redeux? How long have they had these photographs? Is the coma of this comet large enough to serve as a staging area for an alien invasion? Have we all forgotten about the galactic battleship hiding behind Comet Hale-Bopp speculation? Could this be why world leaders are in China?
Regardless of why world leaders now convene in China, an important Earth-preserving step resulted today, coincident with this landing. That’s very cool.
Meanwhile, the recent transits ask: Have you traveled too close to the symbolic sun in your life? With Mars to Pluto and Uranus on the heels of Mars-Icarus, are you playing the game of life in a soulful, intention-rich pattern of innovative steps for evolution? Or have recent steps worked in contrary directions with reality crashing down all around? Regardless, here’s an alternate reality: On November 18th Mars transits the degree occupied by Comet 76p at the time of Philae’s landing.
Prepare to launch:
Ideas that are out of this world. Innovate.
Ideas and activities that support the essence of life on Earth and contribute to its evolution. Support compassion.
Activities that support the physical healing of planet Earth. Get green
Activities that strategically approach goals and objectives that may have been previously approached with a cavalier lack of caution and respect for physical reality and the laws of nature. Respect reality when going beyond the beyond.
Mind-blowing realizations and insights that contribute to greater understanding. Download
wisdom.
More soon.