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[To avoid confusion, perhaps I should say that I wrote this last night; I'm just posting it now. I haven't heard any news today and don't know if the situation has changed or not, though.]
The British (well, okay, the ESA; I guess I might just think of it as British because I hear about it on the BBC) people are surprisingly calm and optimistic about their Beagle 2. It was supposed to have landed on Mars Christmas morning, but they haven't heard anything from it since then. They say it probably landed safely and that a million and one small things could have gone wrong but they still expect to hear from it.
I hope they do. Not just because I want to know more things about Mars, but also because I can't help thinking about the investment--in time, money, emotion, labor, and intellect--that the thing represents, and it would be a shame for all of that to have been expended in vain.
One of the men said this is like sending a love letter, because after you do it you have to sit around nervously waiting for a response. So of course immediately I imagined an envelope sealed with a heart sticker, sailing off between planets (Earth, Mars, and letter are all slightly cartoonish in this image, of course). I wondered what it would say.
The British (well, okay, the ESA; I guess I might just think of it as British because I hear about it on the BBC) people are surprisingly calm and optimistic about their Beagle 2. It was supposed to have landed on Mars Christmas morning, but they haven't heard anything from it since then. They say it probably landed safely and that a million and one small things could have gone wrong but they still expect to hear from it.
I hope they do. Not just because I want to know more things about Mars, but also because I can't help thinking about the investment--in time, money, emotion, labor, and intellect--that the thing represents, and it would be a shame for all of that to have been expended in vain.
One of the men said this is like sending a love letter, because after you do it you have to sit around nervously waiting for a response. So of course immediately I imagined an envelope sealed with a heart sticker, sailing off between planets (Earth, Mars, and letter are all slightly cartoonish in this image, of course). I wondered what it would say.
Dear Mars,I hope it goes well for the ESA. I'd hate for their love to go unrequited, especially due to a mere fault in the postal service.
I like you. I think you're cute. Even though the channels are not canals, you are still alluring. Even though the face on Mars was an optical illusion, I don't mind.
I want to know more about you--I feel as if I'm just getting to know you, even though we've grown up next door to each other. I want to know what you're made of and what you were like in the past. I have water and heat and atmosphere and life, do you? Did you ever? I love your mystery, but I would love to know your secrets too. I'll tell you mine. That's how love works.
You got so close to me earlier this year; you wouldn't believe the excitement that caused ...
I love your ferrous oxide, your Olympus Mons--largest volcano in the solar system, and don't think I didn't notice--your sandstorms and ice caps and seasonal variations in both. I love your two little moons--they arouse no fear or panic in me. I love you.
Earth