Frost*ies

Frost* => Announcements => Topic started by: Trapezium Artist on December 10, 2013, 10:20:47 PM

Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 10, 2013, 10:20:47 PM
Some of you may have been following the limerick thread and the two which referred to Comet ISON's demise and then looking forward to ESA's Rosetta and its mission to rendezvous with, escort, and place a lander on Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

Those two lovely team-written limericks, along with a Frost*erisk, managed to wangle their way into my talk to the media today about Rosetta's impending wake-up from hibernation on 20 January and a look forward to the great science this mission will do next year (fast-forward to 9 mins):

http://www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency/video?clipId=pla_5ddad296-9c7a-44a5-be85-ed70b1767c51&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb (http://www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency/video?clipId=pla_5ddad296-9c7a-44a5-be85-ed70b1767c51&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb)

It amused me and the audience no end  8)

But ... this all comes at a cost. Now I need you to do something in return and I just know that you creative Frost*ies will do me proud.

We're running a social media campaign around the wake-up and have announced a competition, asking for people to record short video messages essentially saying "Wake up, Rosetta!". It could be a whisper, a shout, a flash mob (please), or, this being the Frost* forum, surely something with some music in. Seven seconds, thirty seconds, ninety seconds: whatever you like.

The videos get uploaded to a special Facebook page (no account necessary), get voted on, and ranked: the top ten all get special ESA goodie bags and the two grand winners (which may not necessarily be the top ranked), get a paid trip to our mission operations centre, ESOC, in Darmstadt, to be part of the big day in November 14 when Rosetta drops her lander Philae onto the surface of Comet 67P/C-G. Should be very exciting indeed ...

All you need to know about entering is in the links below: entries allowed between now and 20 January, so upload soon, and upload often  8)

Go for it, my lovely Frost*ies friends.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Wake_up_Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Wake_up_Rosetta)
https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission (https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission)
https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission/app_380544765399431 (https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission/app_380544765399431)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P06yCOny218 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P06yCOny218)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzi87aI60s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzi87aI60s)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on December 11, 2013, 08:28:14 AM
Well played TA, excellent incorporation of the logo and the limerick's  :)

I'll have a think and certainly record a short video for you :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 08:38:21 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on December 11, 2013, 08:28:14 AM
Well played TA, excellent incorporation of the logo and the limerick's  :)

I'll have a think and certainly record a short video for you :)

Thanks, Mikey. I noticed on the streamed video that an ESA logo had been superimposed in the top left corner, which wasn't in my presentation. That obscured the Frost*erisk slightly, but hopefully it was still visible.

Hope you also caught the rather heavy emphasis on the F* word I used when describing the weather of the day in chilly Darmstadt ;-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on December 11, 2013, 09:22:38 AM
Duly liked on FB. Now considering an entry. If only my poor frazzled brain had chosen to consider this last night rather than giving me strange and deeply troubling dreams about the best way to barbecue pheasants' tongues...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 09:50:01 AM
Quote from: catherine on December 11, 2013, 09:22:38 AM
Duly liked on FB. Now considering an entry. If only my poor frazzled brain had chosen to consider this last night rather than giving me strange and deeply troubling dreams about the best way to barbecue pheasants' tongues...

And what's equally worrying is that I initially read that as "peasants' tongues" and wondered quite what the extraurban proletariat had done to annoy you yesterday, Catherine  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on December 11, 2013, 10:17:08 AM
Had an eye test recently, TA?  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 10:47:11 AM
Quote from: catherine on December 11, 2013, 10:17:08 AM
Had an eye test recently, TA?  8)

No, but perhaps it's time. I certainly don't remember you having such a prominent moustache the last time I saw you  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on December 11, 2013, 12:55:43 PM
Well, you know, Movember...  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 03:07:37 PM
Quote from: catherine on December 11, 2013, 12:55:43 PM
Well, you know, Movember...  ;D

And now? Depilember?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on December 11, 2013, 07:37:14 PM
Well played that man, and proof indeed  :) :) :) :)


Where was your name-plate?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 10:21:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on December 11, 2013, 07:37:14 PM
Well played that man, and proof indeed  :) :) :) :)


Where was your name-plate?

Not in shot, apparently, but they were there, dangling down over the edge of the desk thing. Which I was very unhappy about; I like to stand up and move around when giving a talk ...

Oh, well ... perhaps I can push harder for this for next week's event, namely the launch of our amazing Gaia astronomy satellite. I'll be doing the science pitch from Germany for that one too; will post links to the livestream for those interested. Launch is scheduled for 09:12 UT (UK time) on 19 January ...
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on December 11, 2013, 10:36:23 PM
Epic.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on December 14, 2013, 08:32:07 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on December 11, 2013, 10:21:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on December 11, 2013, 07:37:14 PM
Well played that man, and proof indeed  :) :) :) :)


Where was your name-plate?

Not in shot, apparently, but they were there, dangling down over the edge of the desk thing. Which I was very unhappy about; I like to stand up and move around when giving a talk ...

Oh, well ... perhaps I can push harder for this for next week's event, namely the launch of our amazing Gaia astronomy satellite. I'll be doing the science pitch from Germany for that one too; will post links to the livestream for those interested. Launch is scheduled for 09:12 UT (UK time) on 19 January ...

Cue limerick ideas :-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 16, 2014, 06:01:53 PM
So, you lot: has anyone actually submitted a Wake Up, Rosetta! video to our competition yet?

I was counting on your enormous creativity over the Christmas period, but appears as though The Merch Desk must've sold a batch of Frost* logo mince pies with an additional tot of rum in each one.

C'mon, less than four days to go until our comet-hunting lady awakes from her slumber. It might be too late to get enough votes to win a prize ... unless you advertise your video here, that is ;-)

https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission/app_380544765399431

Surely someone can sneak in a bit of Snowman somewhere ... The lyrics were obviously written all about comets, right Jem?

(Whole wake-up day will be livestreamed at www.esa.int, but the real excitement will be seeing me trying to sneak another Frost* reference into my morning interview the wake-up signal arrive at around 17:45 UK time or thereafter).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on January 17, 2014, 01:23:32 AM
Well I was busy over in the States with my family over Xmas so couldn't manage anything then, but I just uploaded my video now :D

I am waiting for it to be moderated on the mission Facebook page, but in the meantime it's here - http://youtu.be/KVxb8iVWeig - in all its lo-fi glory. So vote away if you like, but do look at the others, there are some cool things on there!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 17, 2014, 08:22:35 AM
Quote from: JimD on January 17, 2014, 01:23:32 AM
Well I was busy over in the States with my family over Xmas so couldn't manage anything then, but I just uploaded my video now :D

I am waiting for it to be moderated on the mission Facebook page, but in the meantime it's here - http://youtu.be/KVxb8iVWeig - in all its lo-fi glory. So vote away if you like, but do look at the others, there are some cool things on there!

Rock'n'roll, Jim: excellent one. Thanks a lot 8)

There are indeed some great little videos in the selection; gives me a real warm fuzzy feeling to realise that people are so motivated.

Fingers crossed for Monday and those with a UK location might want to tune into Newsnight, as there's a growing possibility that TA will be on again, but squaring off against Paxman this time.

Gulp  :o
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on January 17, 2014, 12:12:31 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on January 17, 2014, 08:22:35 AM
Fingers crossed for Monday and those with a UK location might want to tune into Newsnight, as there's a growing possibility that TA will be on again, but squaring off against Paxman this time.

Gulp  :o

Phear not the Paxman - he might be a secret space-fan who just wants to know what is going to happen?! If the interview does happen you will be super-kool I am sure. Normally he is used to grilling politicians about politricks; you Sire will be explaining how to land on a comet, knowledge of which I am sure is sparser than expenses and lobbying!

Had a quick login to FB just now to see how my vid was doing. 8 votes, but Tasmin Archer has 11!

http://woobox.com/vqgzq5/vote/for/1838808
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on January 17, 2014, 12:43:53 PM
I had a really great idea but I'm afraid we've been extra busy in work and I just haven't had time to get it done which is a shame as it would have been epic ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 17, 2014, 01:15:00 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on January 17, 2014, 12:43:53 PM
I had a really great idea but I'm afraid we've been extra busy in work and I just haven't had time to get it done which is a shame as it would have been epic ;D

Well, if time is the problem, Mike, you could do worse than record a video of yourself explaining the idea  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on January 17, 2014, 05:02:10 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on January 17, 2014, 01:15:00 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on January 17, 2014, 12:43:53 PM
I had a really great idea but I'm afraid we've been extra busy in work and I just haven't had time to get it done which is a shame as it would have been epic ;D

Well, if time is the problem, Mike, you could do worse than record a video of yourself explaining the idea  ;)

Busted!

I've got no idea, and if I had the execution of it would be laughable. Good luck with Paxman. Tell him you preferred him bearded!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on January 17, 2014, 06:28:27 PM
Frost*ies v. students and scientists from the TU Braunschweig

Come on peeps, we're being thrashed
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 17, 2014, 06:56:32 PM
Quote from: Mikey on January 17, 2014, 06:28:27 PM
Frost*ies v. students and scientists from the TU Braunschweig

Come on peeps, we're being thrashed

That's it, Mikey: get 'em riled, get 'em pumped up. Frost*ies can be a mean lot when cornered ...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on January 18, 2014, 10:23:25 AM
I see TA is quoted in today's Times in "Mission controllers wake comet-chaser from space 'sleep'" on page 41.
Bit disappointed you didn't manage to get a subtle mention of Frost in there, TA - the closest you managed was "ice".
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 18, 2014, 11:35:24 AM
Quote from: catherine on January 18, 2014, 10:23:25 AM
I see TA is quoted in today's Times in "Mission controllers wake comet-chaser from space 'sleep'" on page 41.
Bit disappointed you didn't manage to get a subtle mention of Frost in there, TA - the closest you managed was "ice".

The Times? I don't even recall talking to them ...  ::)

It's become a bit of a blur, to be honest. I did a nice radio interview with Voice Of America earlier in the week that'll be broadcast this weekend.

There will also be a BBC crew at the event on Monday doing regular live updates to various news programmes during the day, so look out for me there. (Quite why they're bothering is anyone's guess: there's essentially no chance of a signal until early evening, so at best they'll be raising some faux tension).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Pedro on January 18, 2014, 11:44:11 AM
Really sorry to let the side down on this, TA.
I was rather burned-out with work and family stuff over the Xmas period and I've not been paying proper attention here.  :(
I can only wish you the best of luck with it and try to keep up with developments from here on.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 18, 2014, 12:45:43 PM
Quote from: Pedro on January 18, 2014, 11:44:11 AM
Really sorry to let the side down on this, TA.
I was rather burned-out with work and family stuff over the Xmas period and I've not been paying proper attention here.  :(
I can only wish you the best of luck with it and try to keep up with developments from here on.

No problem at all, Pedro. Actually, I feel a little guilty about abusing my privileges as a member of this forum, spamming people and "encouraging" them to be interested in Rosetta. While it's not quite the same as using the forum to advertise furniture, there's a concomitant danger.

That said, I suspect that many Frost*ies do harbour an interest for cool things like this, quite apart from the ice/frost connection  8)

In any case, if we get the wake-up signal on Monday and the spacecraft checks out ok, you can be sure that we'll be leveraging the social campaign even further as we get towards comet rendezvous and landing. So, you'll all have plenty more chances, we hope  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on January 20, 2014, 02:51:39 PM
I keep scouring the Grauniad's Rosetta comet-chasing spacecraft wakes up – live blog: but not a single sign of a TA can I find
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on January 20, 2014, 06:45:02 PM
No doubt there are a lot of very relieved people at ESA right now :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on January 20, 2014, 08:51:59 PM
Yay TA!  :) 8) :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 21, 2014, 09:58:24 AM
Quote from: owen on January 20, 2014, 08:51:59 PM
Yay TA!  :) 8) :)

Oh, yesterday was one of those days you never forget. Amazing. I was in the control room for the signal arrival: tension like you wouldn't believe, relief and elation you can see in the pictures. Special.

This is just the beginning: imagine how it's going to be when we deploy the lander  ;)

And after doing live TV interviews with BBC World, BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera (yup), and others, my new friend Mr Paxman was very nice to me. Lovely interview ... Hope it came over that way on Newsnight yesterday (haven't seen it yet; am now in Paris for the next meeting).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on January 21, 2014, 10:43:24 AM
He did seem nice, gave a little bit more of a hard time to the next chap, from the sky at night. What's the point, £1B etc. Other guy was having none of it mind (Rosetta hasn't taken the money away, and other stuff). Probably more impressed with you being introduced as a prof instead of merely dr!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on January 21, 2014, 10:56:50 AM
Grats, TA!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on January 21, 2014, 11:41:59 AM
QuoteLovely interview ... Hope it came over that way on Newsnight yesterday (haven't seen it yet; am now in Paris for the next meeting)

iPlayer users can zap forward to about 36 mins to get the Rosetta report and TA's friendly chat with Mr P. The next chap did indeed bat back the barbs admirably too; nice to see the mission is well represented by its spokespeople.

Did any of the wake-up messages get broadcast to the spaceship?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on January 21, 2014, 11:59:11 AM
Grats TA,
Here is the news, from the forum to Paxman & the times, eh.
Early mornings means I didn't watch it last night but I have it "taped"

Is one of your toys, a machine that's working in black light, powered by it's own pocket sun?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on January 21, 2014, 01:38:53 PM
Quote from: Mikey on January 21, 2014, 11:59:11 AMIs one of your toys, a machine that's working in black light, powered by it's own pocket sun?
Nicely played, sir!  You even put in an extra apostrophe just to annoy TA!  ;)
I also recorded Newsnight so am looking forward to watching it tonight.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 21, 2014, 02:34:23 PM
Thanks, all: much appreciated. It was a very busy day and you mustn't forget that even though I was one of the people sticking their fizzog down the broadcast cameras, there were many, many others at work behind the scenes, and many of them have worked on this project for many years. Their emotion was palpable.

It's interesting to hear that Paxman saved up the "waste of money?" question for Chris Lintott from Sky at Night, if only because it's an entirely predictable question from him, but then why not pose it to the Agency that's spent the money, not a young(er) scientist who works for the BBC?

I've heard conflicting reports on how the segment "felt" in the end, so I'll have to watch it. I can only repeat that my talk with Jeremy was very nice, both during the interview and before and after too. Of course, he could have been toying with me, and then edited the crap out of it :-)

Mikey: no pocket sun (nuclear power) on board Rosetta. It's powered solely by the full-size Sun, albeit currently at a fairly large distance away.

JimD: not yet; we have to do all the check-out stuff first, plus we need to go through all the videos and check / select winners. My communications team, including the social media folk, are all pretty exhausted at the moment (as am I  :o).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on January 21, 2014, 07:28:26 PM
Quote from: D S on January 21, 2014, 01:38:53 PM
Quote from: Mikey on January 21, 2014, 11:59:11 AMIs one of your toys, a machine that's working in black light, powered by it's own pocket sun?
Nicely played, sir!  You even put in an extra apostrophe just to annoy TA!  ;)
I also recorded Newsnight so am looking forward to watching it tonight.
You missed here is the news'
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on January 21, 2014, 08:14:50 PM
Indeed I did - but it's just an ELO cover anyway!  ;)
Annoyed to discover that Newsnight in Scotland is not the same as Newsnight in England - our version was TA-less. >:( Off to BBC iPlayer now to see if I can find the interview...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on January 22, 2014, 07:45:38 PM
TA - I loved the way that Paxo had 3 goes (at least) at pronouncing your surname and managed to get it different each time!  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Pedro on January 22, 2014, 09:28:10 PM
Yeah, stuffed it up a bit, didn't he?  :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 22, 2014, 10:20:18 PM
Quote from: catherine on January 22, 2014, 07:45:38 PM
TA - I loved the way that Paxo had 3 goes (at least) at pronouncing your surname and managed to get it different each time!  ;D

He did get it right when we spoke on the pre-record, if only because I'd told his producer how to say it. Thus it is possible that he got it right on one of the attempts; still haven't watched it back myself yet :-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on January 22, 2014, 11:33:28 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on January 22, 2014, 10:20:18 PMstill haven't watched it back myself yet :-)
You should. You were the very epitome of Cool Sciencey Dude :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Brom on January 26, 2014, 10:43:42 PM
Been watching all this from work, which has firewall issues which has stopped me posting - hopefully fixed soon. Great work TA and team. I fondly remember the buzz/thrill/goosebumps I got when we received signals from an aerial sensor that was only a couple of miles away - but what you and the team have achieved is amazing... can't begin to imagine how it felt! Congrats!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on August 06, 2014, 09:57:47 AM
More excitement for TA today!  8)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28640787
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 06, 2014, 03:21:49 PM
So exciting!

http://rosetta.esa.int
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 06, 2014, 04:52:49 PM
Quote from: rogerg on August 06, 2014, 03:21:49 PM
So exciting!

http://rosetta.esa.int

Fun day for all of us, chaps: thanks for following  :)

And I managed to get Frost* into things in quite a different way today. Not in real-time on TV, but by a circuitous route, I've ended up being profiled as a Flickr photographer today, a mix of Rosetta stuff and my own photographic stuff, including a pic of the boys at Celebr8.2 (not .3), and a few words about them  :)

http://blog.flickr.net/en/2014/08/06/photographer-spotlight-mark-mccaughrean-senior-science-advisor-esa/ (http://blog.flickr.net/en/2014/08/06/photographer-spotlight-mark-mccaughrean-senior-science-advisor-esa/)

Enjoy (will write more later, but still have BBC, PBS, CBC, CNN interviews to do tonight  ::))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on August 06, 2014, 07:18:12 PM
Nice work TA! (Rosetta as well as the photos ;))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on August 06, 2014, 07:28:23 PM
I really enjoyed that read TA - a fascinating insight into what you do. Your'e a bloody talented bloke and living proof - if one were needed - that science and art can compliment each other perfectly.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 06, 2014, 08:19:11 PM
Quote from: sawtooth on August 06, 2014, 07:28:23 PM
I really enjoyed that read TA - a fascinating insight into what you do. Your'e a bloody talented bloke and living proof - if one were needed - that science and art can compliment each other perfectly.

Aww, shucks, man :-)

CNN International news at 21:45 CEST, 20:45 BST: watch a man wave his arms around while staring into a black lens one more time after a very long day, before he slides off for a beer with the team at the brewery around the corner here in Darmstadt.

Been a great day, but it's really just the start ...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on August 06, 2014, 10:47:35 PM
That's amazing! Congratulations.  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 07, 2014, 01:49:54 AM
Excellent interview!  What fun that was to read, and not humbly at all, to get to say (at least to myself), hey!  I kind of know that guy!

Seriously, very cool, man.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on August 07, 2014, 09:12:04 AM
Committed though TA is to this amazing project, some on the team appear to be permanently committed to it.   :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28684157
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 09:28:01 AM
Nice article on flickr TA, a very interesting read and nice photos  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 07, 2014, 10:00:07 AM
Quote from: D S on August 07, 2014, 09:12:04 AM
Committed though TA is to this amazing project, some on the team appear to be permanently committed to it.   :o

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28684157

Yup, Matt waited until we had successful wake-up on 20 January, then went and had the tattoo made. It's by means his only one, mind you: most of the rest are a little less space science related  ;)

But for the slightly fainter of heart, we have made sheets of temporary tattoos showing various things about the mission, mostly from our cartoon "Rosetta & Philae" series (all on YouTube). One of them, however, is a miniature version of Matt's leg tattoo, so I expect you all to join in on landing day in November  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 07, 2014, 10:04:02 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 09:28:01 AM
Nice article on flickr TA, a very interesting read and nice photos  :)

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the feedback. The origin of the connection with the Flickr blog team was Rosetta, of course, but it turned into one of these "meet the photographer" posts which left me slightly floundering to answer questions like "Which are your favourite photos" and "How did you become a photographer". On the photos, I picked a few and the blog guy, Kay, picked several himself: it all came out a bit more personal and extensive than I originally anticipated.

But it's all good fun and in the name of promoting our mad mission  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 07, 2014, 11:03:39 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 06, 2014, 04:52:49 PM
Enjoy (will write more later, but still have BBC, PBS, CBC, CNN interviews to do tonight  ::))
It´s tough at the top, Grats, you´re a top banana  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on August 07, 2014, 03:33:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 06, 2014, 04:52:49 PM
http://blog.flickr.net/en/2014/08/06/photographer-spotlight-mark-mccaughrean-senior-science-advisor-esa/ (http://blog.flickr.net/en/2014/08/06/photographer-spotlight-mark-mccaughrean-senior-science-advisor-esa/)

That was a fascinating read. I have shared it for the world to see! Soon you'll be as famous as Brian C*cough* :p
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 04:09:17 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 07, 2014, 10:04:02 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 09:28:01 AM
Nice article on flickr TA, a very interesting read and nice photos  :)

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the feedback. The origin of the connection with the Flickr blog team was Rosetta, of course, but it turned into one of these "meet the photographer" posts which left me slightly floundering to answer questions like "Which are your favourite photos" and "How did you become a photographer". On the photos, I picked a few and the blog guy, Kay, picked several himself: it all came out a bit more personal and extensive than I originally anticipated.

But it's all good fun and in the name of promoting our mad mission  8)

No problem mate, can I ask what do you think of this http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/product/cameras/eos_60da.do
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 07, 2014, 05:23:36 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 04:09:17 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 07, 2014, 10:04:02 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 07, 2014, 09:28:01 AM
Nice article on flickr TA, a very interesting read and nice photos  :)

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the feedback. The origin of the connection with the Flickr blog team was Rosetta, of course, but it turned into one of these "meet the photographer" posts which left me slightly floundering to answer questions like "Which are your favourite photos" and "How did you become a photographer". On the photos, I picked a few and the blog guy, Kay, picked several himself: it all came out a bit more personal and extensive than I originally anticipated.

But it's all good fun and in the name of promoting our mad mission  8)

No problem mate, can I ask what do you think of this http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/product/cameras/eos_60da.do

I'm probably not the right person to ask, Mike: as my Flickr blog thing pointed out, I don't tend to do much astrophotography because there are many people out there with far more time, patience, and creativity than me who do it brilliantly already. And as a professional night-sky picture taker, if you like, I'd rather not jeopardise my reputation there by posting half-arsed snaps with my DSLR. Plus I live in the Netherlands, where, well ...

None of which answers your question. I wasn't aware of the modified Canon: seems as though it just has a different IR blocking filter in, to allow a better transmission of the Hydrogen-alpha line at 6563 Angstroms, which gives nebulae their reddish glow. I'd be tempted to say that you could always recover that signal with appropriate image processing, but am not a specialist. Nevertheless it's interesting that Canon think there's enough of a market for such things to offer them commercially.

Personally, I was a bit more impressed by the D800E from Nikon, which removes the optical low-pass filter from a standard D800. The great majority of DSLR's have OLPF's to eliminate aliasing, which can lead to nasty moire fringing in certain situations. But they also reduce sharpness slightly, so it's a compromise. The D800E is said to be great for astrophotography because of all the pin-point sources (stars :-) in the images.

But again, this is not something I have much experience with; I'd imagine that there are lots of reviews / studies about the pros and cons of those two cameras on the web.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 08, 2014, 08:01:52 AM
Thanks,  I wasn't aware Canon made it either but it's been around for a few years
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on September 15, 2014, 01:20:17 PM
Further update today on the proposed landing site.  8)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29203284

(As an aside, I also noticed a link headline on the BBC website that said "Two arrests outside "Yes" Concert" and initally wondered if TA was protesting about the lack of Jon Anderson until the penny dropped! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-29202726 )
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 15, 2014, 06:36:06 PM
Quote from: D S on September 15, 2014, 01:20:17 PM
Further update today on the proposed landing site.  8)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29203284

(As an aside, I also noticed a link headline on the BBC website that said "Two arrests outside "Yes" Concert"
I saw

Quote from: ITV NewsYes demo in Scotland
I thought they were all tax exiles
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on September 15, 2014, 09:29:30 PM
J for Jem? :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on September 15, 2014, 09:36:26 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on September 15, 2014, 09:29:30 PM
J for Jem? :D
Looks as if we might get a chance to make that suggestion!
"The favoured location is identified for the moment simply by the letter "J". (A public naming competition will run in due course)."
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 15, 2014, 11:17:13 PM
It's really freaking amazing.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 16, 2014, 05:31:29 PM
Thanks for all this, chaps (of both genders): glad to know we've still got your interest  8)

I was at landing site selection announcement press conference itself yesterday, so couldn't quite tell how it had gone over in the wider world, but there certainly are lots of little legs paddling like mad under the table to put all of this together on such a short timescale, making for a few rough edges. We didn't have time for a rehearsal, so my French colleague's viewgraphs were rather challenging, visually speaking  ;)

Any, we're well and truly on the roller coaster now; it's all go until mid-November, huge amounts of stuff to get done on many, many fronts. But 'tis very exciting indeed ...

As for being arrested at a Yes concert, my first reaction was "what, again?".

[As for naming Site J, the rules will state that it can't be named for anyone living, I'm afraid. Which Jem is. And will be. For many, many moons to come, I'm sure]
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on September 16, 2014, 06:33:31 PM
Jehoshaphat
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 16, 2014, 09:27:41 PM
Quote from: owen on September 16, 2014, 06:33:31 PM
Jehoshaphat

Gesundheit.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 16, 2014, 11:53:04 PM
I think it should be named "Milliontown".
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on September 17, 2014, 12:24:20 AM
There are fictitious Jems. Jem of Holograms fame, Jem from 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and the Jem'Hadar, military badasses from the Gamma Quadrant (they're not alive...yet).  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 17, 2014, 08:25:36 AM
Quote from: rogerg on September 16, 2014, 11:53:04 PM
I think it should be named "Milliontown".

That underestimates the cost by a factor of a thousand or so ...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on September 17, 2014, 09:56:09 AM
And it doesn't begin with "j". And it probably would be too big to put on a trendy T shirt for when TA next hosts Newsnight
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 17, 2014, 10:46:45 AM
Quote from: owen on September 16, 2014, 06:33:31 PM
Jehoshaphat
& Jones
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on September 17, 2014, 12:19:03 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 17, 2014, 08:25:36 AM
Quote from: rogerg on September 16, 2014, 11:53:04 PM
I think it should be named "Milliontown".

That underestimates the cost by a factor of a thousand or so ...  ;)

Quote from: owen on September 17, 2014, 09:56:09 AM
And it doesn't begin with "j".

OK then: Jilliontown.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 17, 2014, 11:04:19 PM
Quote from: owen on September 17, 2014, 09:56:09 AM
And it doesn't begin with "j". And it probably would be too big to put on a trendy T shirt for when TA next hosts Newsnight

Ach, Newsnight: been there, done that, got the video, and even Paxo's gone now  ;)

We went global last time:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/08/06/wrn-rosetta-probe-mark-mccaughrean-intv.cnn.html (http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/08/06/wrn-rosetta-probe-mark-mccaughrean-intv.cnn.html)
8)

Same polo shirt, mind you: it's the only one I've got.

If Nells were to make some small, discrete enamel Frost*erisk pins, I'm sure one could make its way onto the shirt when Jon Stewart, Graham Norton, or even (shiver) The Mighty Prof BC come calling  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 05:22:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)

About what, pray tell?  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 06:15:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 05:22:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)

About what, pray tell?  8)
A certain TV hogging celebrity
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 08:33:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 06:15:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 05:22:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)

About what, pray tell?  8)
A certain TV hogging celebrity
Hey, outside. Now. That's no way to refer to me  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on September 18, 2014, 09:19:46 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 08:33:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 06:15:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 05:22:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)

About what, pray tell?  8)
A certain TV hogging celebrity
Hey, outside. Now. That's no way to refer to me  ;)
It's OK, I think he was referring to the one with the permanent cheesy grin  :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 19, 2014, 12:39:05 AM
Quote from: owen on September 17, 2014, 09:56:09 AM
And it doesn't begin with "j". And it probably would be too big to put on a trendy T shirt for when TA next hosts Newsnight

I didn't think it had to start with "j", I just thought that was a placeholder.

(Just trying to find a way!)  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 19, 2014, 08:04:19 AM
Quote from: DueyC on September 18, 2014, 09:19:46 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 08:33:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 06:15:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 18, 2014, 05:22:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 18, 2014, 11:01:37 AM
Do I detect a smidgeon of sarcasm there?  ;)

About what, pray tell?  8)
A certain TV hogging celebrity
Hey, outside. Now. That's no way to refer to me  ;)
It's OK, I think he was referring to the one with the permanent cheesy grin  :D

Hence the wink  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 19, 2014, 11:33:20 AM
I've pulled  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 19, 2014, 05:16:12 PM
Quote from: Mikey on September 19, 2014, 11:33:20 AM
I've pulled  ;) ;)

Nah, you're not my type: can't abide people with -y at the end of their name.

Of course -ie is highly desirable  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 08, 2014, 09:29:13 PM
So ... since our resident Botherer of the Ivories seems to be very busy at the moment, I thought I'd stick on the old polo shirt and pop on over to the Big V's place instead, chat with him about why he didn't join Yes, and have a listen as he tinkled his way through a few choons.

As you do  8)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44255509/v2.jpg)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 09, 2014, 01:55:32 AM
way cool.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on October 09, 2014, 07:25:34 AM
wow... nice perk that!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on October 09, 2014, 07:46:14 AM
Ooh err!  8) Suitably impressed.
Did you get to play with all those volume pedals he has at his feet?!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 09, 2014, 09:22:27 AM
Quote from: D S on October 09, 2014, 07:46:14 AM
Ooh err!  8) Suitably impressed.
Did you get to play with all those volume pedals he has at his feet?!

Well, he does have 16 pedals at his feet, but to be honest, I couldn't swear that they're volume pedals  :-\

I mean, I'm no keyboard man at all, so I'm sure I won't do his custom system justice or even be able to describe it coherently, despite spending quite a lot of time talking with him about it and trying to understand it.

But essentially, it seems to be one big MIDI system, with 16 separate controller boxes (as seen above the keyboards), each with a corresponding pedal. Each box has a strip of 10, err, patches, which he can click to select, and then he can push another switch on each box to roll through a 5-sided mechanical thingy (think of the changing number plates in one of the old James Bond films), giving access to another 10 patches on each side of the pentagonal roll.

So, each of the boxes has 50 patches and he has 16 of them, so 800 patches at his fingertips. He said that roughly half were synthesised sounds and half samples.

Now, here's the thing I struggled to grasp. Somehow, multiple patches are mapped onto the main keyboard (there's a secondary one above it, but he rarely used that one while playing), so he can play multiple instruments / samples / patches at once. OK, but not only are these spatially mapped (different parts of the keyboard for different sounds, I think), but they are mapped by pressure. That is, depending on the pressure he applies to a given key, he can get four completely different patches out of that key. This requires very careful calibration, both of the system and of his hand-eye coordination, and it makes the system effectively unplayable by anyone else, he said. The keys still seem to be pressure / attack sensitive in the normal sense (i.e. he could play a piano note louder or quieter), but how these separate functions are disentangled, I have no idea at all  :o

The pedals below seemed to be used as switches more than volume controllers: he'd move his feet around to tap a given pedal, perhaps to switch the corresponding box and its settings onto the keyboard at one of the four pressure levels, but I have to admit to being a bit lost at this point (as well as just absorbed by the music he was playing  ;))

There are dials on each of the controller boxes which seemed to be volume-related, but he also occasionally reached over to the big mixing board to his left and moved sliders up and down: these also seemed to correspond to controller boxes, although I couldn't swear that it was one-to-one. At some point, he explained that when composing a big piece, he'll spend a whole day just tweaking the mixing board, so it seems as though this is used as an intermediate processing step in real-time, more than a post-processing "turn the volume of a recorded track up or down during mixing" thing.

But I've probably exposed myself as a complete dilletante here, as I know nothing about how this really works in conventional set-ups, let alone his one-of-a-kind system.

What I can say though is that he essentially composes, plays, and records straight from his (unconscious) mind: he talked at length about trying to get his conscious mind out of the process and just play. For us, he was only demo-ing the system, he insisted, but even then, it was amazing to hear what was coming out: one moment you were in Blade Runner, another in 1492 or China, and for me, a true hairs-up-the-back-of-my-neck moment came when I was enveloped in the closing parts of Horizon from the Private Collection album by Jon & Vangelis.

Not that he was specifically playing any of those pieces, mind you: it was just his musical signatures coming through and transporting you to those worlds. Wonderful.

Full, complete works flow in real-time and are recorded: he says he doesn't edit, mix, or over-dub later: what comes out now is what you get. He doesn't read or write music; it's all self-taught and instinctive.

Anyway, great guy, very genuine, curious, engaged, not at all pompous, and a real pleasure to spend time with. I suspect I'll be back ...  8)


Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 09, 2014, 11:50:48 AM
even more cool.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 09, 2014, 02:49:30 PM
Wow  8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on October 09, 2014, 06:18:03 PM
And then some. You lucky man. I found  a video of him doing that a while ago but to see him do it?  Brilliant
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 09, 2014, 06:20:44 PM
Quote from: owen on October 09, 2014, 06:18:03 PM
And then some. You lucky man. I found  a video of him doing that a while ago but to see him do it?  Brilliant
There was a link on here somewhere
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on October 09, 2014, 08:08:20 PM
There was.  I found the thread again this morning...
http://frostmusic.net/forum/index.php?topic=3785.msg66322#msg66322

http://vimeo.com/80936319

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on October 14, 2014, 10:30:59 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 17, 2014, 11:04:19 PM

If Nells were to make some small, discrete enamel Frost*erisk pins...

As opposed to continuous ones? Dear me, TA. And I was thinking you were the soul of discretion, too.  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on October 15, 2014, 05:48:04 PM
Buggering Norah, Mr Artist!

I was watching Neil Brand's Sound of Cinema (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b51db) series the other day, and he did a sesh with Mr V. In fact, he stood in pretty much exactly the same spot as you (and with the same expression of chuffedness*, too).
And as I watched it, I HAD to know what all of the knobs and buttons did! But had no possible way of knowing, as it's all very obviously custom.
So I had to put it down as one of Life's Great Mysteries.... until now!
You are an absolute hero, sir.



* It's a perfectly cromulent word.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 15, 2014, 05:56:25 PM
Right !!!!!

I see your Vangelis and raise you......

err

err

bugger  :)

That's not far off a Royal Flush
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 16, 2014, 10:59:20 AM
Quote from: catherine on October 14, 2014, 10:30:59 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 17, 2014, 11:04:19 PM

If Nells were to make some small, discrete enamel Frost*erisk pins...

As opposed to continuous ones? Dear me, TA. And I was thinking you were the soul of discretion, too.  ;)

It was an anagram. I need my pins to be discrete and discreet  ;)

Bloody editors  >:(
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 16, 2014, 11:01:04 AM
Quote from: RacingHippo on October 15, 2014, 05:48:04 PM
Buggering Norah, Mr Artist!

I was watching Neil Brand's Sound of Cinema (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b51db) series the other day, and he did a sesh with Mr V. In fact, he stood in pretty much exactly the same spot as you (and with the same expression of chuffedness*, too).
And as I watched it, I HAD to know what all of the knobs and buttons did! But had no possible way of knowing, as it's all very obviously custom.
So I had to put it down as one of Life's Great Mysteries.... until now!
You are an absolute hero, sir.

* It's a perfectly cromulent word.

You never know; you might be able to buy it off him soon. He's having a new sooper-dooper one made, he told me; will put this one to shame.  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 16, 2014, 11:04:51 AM
Quote from: Mikey on October 15, 2014, 05:56:25 PM
Right !!!!!

I see your Vangelis and raise you......

err

err

bugger  :)

That's not far off a Royal Flush

No iPhone pictures to prove it this time, but it was filmed and so evidence may surface ...

... of me having a good long natter to a certain Jeff Wayne of War of the Worlds fame, when he visited us a couple of days ago. He was filming our ExoMars demo rover in our "Mars Yard", and apparently wants some of us to appear on stage with him (or in a panel discussion) at his gig in Amsterdam later this year.

Living the prog fan boy dream, eh ...  ;)

(Truth be told [sotto voce], I'm not such a huge WotW fan; had already moved on to the hard stuff by the time that came out  :P)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 16, 2014, 07:32:40 PM
Hang on, you're not supposed to raise your own bar  :) :)


Unless you're Sergey Bubka
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 25, 2014, 09:22:56 PM
So tell us about this, TA!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H08tGjXNHO4

Very very cool!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on October 25, 2014, 11:46:24 PM
He already has...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud9ON2CzYYM

8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 26, 2014, 12:38:42 AM
Nice!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on October 26, 2014, 01:58:38 AM
Quote from: rogerg on October 25, 2014, 09:22:56 PM
Very very cool!!

What Roger said. Seriously. As someone who loves this kind of stuff, it's mind-boggling to me that we have someone here on this forum involved in this mission (and having no small part in it, I might add), and to have even the most tenuous association with Prof. McCaughrean is, without a doubt, humbling and just plain cool as hell.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 26, 2014, 03:10:03 AM
perzackly.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 26, 2014, 01:28:07 PM
Hello, chaps: I just knew that by the time I found the opportunity to pop in, you'd have found our little film  ;)

Have just arrived back in the Netherlands on the ferry this morning, having made the daft mistake of driving over to the UK for the premiere of our mini sci-fi epic about Rosetta, saying "Oh, I'll just drive my car into central London with all the posters and other goodies to support the event". Didn't help that the British Film Institute is right under Waterloo Bridge and that the BBC, where we dropped in in the morning for some interviews and pictures with their Tardis, is near Oxford Street. London traffic is absolutely mad, both at 08:00 on a Friday morning and no less so at 20:00 on Saturday evening.

Anyway, I digress ...

Hope you've enjoyed our film: we've certainly had a blast making it over the last year or so, albeit only ramping up to full speed at the end of July when we did the live shoot in Iceland with Aidan Gillen and Aisling Franciosi, plus a crew of about 50 locals and our Polish friends. Now that we've revealed the hidden connection between the film and ESA and Rosetta, I'll stick up some cool pictures on my Flickr account.

It has been a huge amount of work, mostly carried out in secret, not helped by the fact that we know just how risky it is for a space agency to start dabbling in Hollywood and sci-fi. So, I was a cat on a hot tin roof at the premiere, since we'd invited a whole bunch of entertainment, film, and game journalists along to see "Ambition", without them knowing that it had anything to do with us. We were sitting in the front row of the National Film Theatre Screen 3 in jackets covering our ESA polo shirts ...

There was a hiccup in the room when the compere prematurely revealed the link to us: we'd desperately wanted it only to become apparent halfway through the film, but in the grand scheme of things, it was fine. The film played in full awesome quality, then we (myself and the Rosetta project scientist, Matt Taylor, along with my comms colleague, Markus Bauer) revealed ourselves and gave a bit of a background briefing on the mission with a lot of lovely pictures of the real comet and the science we're doing.

Then we had a nice video from one of our astronauts on the International Space Station doing a wee demo of landing a probe on a comet, and a contribution from Alastair Reynolds, a very well-known British sci-fi author (and fortunately, ex-ESA scientist). Finally, a panel with Al, me, the film's director, Tomek Baginski, Aisling Franciosi, and Rhidian Davis, the organiser of the BFI's sci-fi film festival.

Then wine!

All very glam, all very exciting, all very exhausting. But worth it, as the film already has something like 340,000 YouTube views split across the ESA and Ambition film channels in less than two days, plus we've turned our ESA front page (www.esa.int) into an Ambition special for the weekend.

'Tis all good and we hope it hits the spot with many people who weren't aware of / interested in Rosetta. Not you lot, of course, 'cos you're all fanboys/girls already  :)

And to boot, I got to take my 15-year old daughter around the BBC and to the premiere, and she got to take me to see the musical Matilda, which is just as brilliant.

Those links again (shameless hussy that I am):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H08tGjXNHO4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H08tGjXNHO4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vlOgN_3QQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vlOgN_3QQ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud9ON2CzYYM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud9ON2CzYYM)
http://ambitionfilm.com (http://ambitionfilm.com)

And since we're all here for the music, the sound track elements are on the website of the film's composer, Atanas Valkov, who told me that he's putting a whole album together for us:

https://soundcloud.com/atanasvalkov (https://soundcloud.com/atanasvalkov)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 26, 2014, 02:35:18 PM
Hussy?

Who's going to promote it if you don't?

Nice one again :) :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on October 26, 2014, 02:39:25 PM
That is all fab, fantastique, wondreful news. I loved the film and wished it was feature length. The music was very cool, too. I'm most impressed that those effects were achieved in a relatively short time frame. The 'Making of' was also great. I especially enjoyed when they sync-wiped (is that a word?) the raw shots with the completed effects shots. Awesome stuff all around. I hope it garners all the attention it deserves.

I'll be sharing the link on FB for my film crew buddies (and other interested parties). I'm certain they will be impressed.

Best of luck with the Ambition project, and Rosetta, of course.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on October 26, 2014, 11:12:01 PM
Absolutely stunning film Mr. T Artist! Just my cup 'o tea!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 26, 2014, 11:17:34 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on October 26, 2014, 02:39:25 PM
That is all fab, fantastique, wondreful news. I loved the film and wished it was feature length. The music was very cool, too. I'm most impressed that those effects were achieved in a relatively short time frame. The 'Making of' was also great. I especially enjoyed when they sync-wiped (is that a word?) the raw shots with the completed effects shots. Awesome stuff all around. I hope it garners all the attention it deserves.

I'll be sharing the link on FB for my film crew buddies (and other interested parties). I'm certain they will be impressed.

Best of luck with the Ambition project, and Rosetta, of course.

Thanks, Gonzo: I know that our friends at Platige Image would love someone to come up with the €50–100M needed to turn this into a feature film, but it's unlikely to be ESA, unfortunately. They did a spectacular job in a very short time, although it damn nearly killed some of them, 7-day weeks for a couple of months, and 20 hour days on many occasions.

That said, I'll take the scientific consultant role any day Hollywood comes calling ...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 26, 2014, 11:20:32 PM
Quote from: sawtooth on October 26, 2014, 11:12:01 PM
Absolutely stunning film Mr. T Artist! Just my cup 'o tea!

Thank you, thank you, Sawtooth.

And to think that if a certain Mr Godfrey and I had ever got our connection sorted, he could have been the composer of the score ... I'm sure he was too busy and although we (very) briefly talked about it, it never came to pass.

Next movie, p'raps ...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 27, 2014, 01:01:03 AM
I was waiting to hear "Frost*" snuck in your commentary....

;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on October 28, 2014, 12:46:10 AM
Wonderful film. Very well done and ticking all the boxes :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on November 11, 2014, 05:53:39 PM
So, tomorrow's the day... fingers crossed for a safe and comfortable landing.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 11, 2014, 08:29:14 PM
Quote from: catherine on November 11, 2014, 05:53:39 PM
So, tomorrow's the day... fingers crossed for a safe and comfortable landing.

Yup, and you can all keep up online at www.esa.int/rosetta (http://www.esa.int/rosetta), or even at ESA's home page www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int)

Or by following your intrepid fellow Frost*ie on Auntie Beeb on the Six O'Clock News tonight (oops, too late), the Ten O'Clock News tonight, and BBC News, Al Jazeera, BBC World, CNN, and others tomorrow (so my press schedule appears to indicate  ::))

All very good, but will it land successfully? Buggered if I know ... ?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 11, 2014, 11:07:33 PM
pretty exciting stuff!  thanks for being our connection to something truly amazing!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on November 11, 2014, 11:20:07 PM
Quote from: rogerg on November 11, 2014, 11:07:33 PM
pretty exciting stuff!  thanks for being our connection to something truly amazing!

Word!

Fingers crossed that all the things that could go wrong don't.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on November 12, 2014, 09:02:21 AM
Currently waiting for confirmation of separation - a nail-biting moment...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on November 12, 2014, 09:06:31 AM
Just heard TA on Radio 4!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on November 12, 2014, 09:40:26 AM
Well yesterday I committed the most heinous act of basking in reflected glory!
Sat in A&E with Mrs Sawtooth (another story) we were watching the Beeb News on the waiting room telly, and the Rosetta feature (with Trapezium Artist) came on. My cries of 'I know that guy! I've had a curry with him!' were not best appreciated by the other queuing patients...

Anyway Mark, whatever happens in the next few hours you should all be bloody proud of yourselves for this amazing achievement. Well done.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on November 12, 2014, 10:50:36 AM
Quote from: JimD on November 12, 2014, 09:06:31 AM
Just heard TA on Radio 4!

Yep. Today programme at about 830. All activity in the house was hushed as soon as I heard mention of Rosetta, then ceased entirely when I heard TA's name.
Nicely, clearly articulated, Mr Artist.
I'm seriously proud to know you!

Quote from: sawtooth on November 12, 2014, 09:40:26 AM
Anyway Mark, whatever happens in the next few hours you should all be bloody proud of yourselves for this amazing achievement. Well done.
Hear, hear!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on November 12, 2014, 11:47:31 AM
Our TA on the BBC website talking about the comet's structure:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30020941
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on November 12, 2014, 01:11:52 PM
So...with the comet being icy, and there possibly being jets of gas coming off the comet at some point, if they were to condense on Philae, would it get frost(*)y?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on November 12, 2014, 03:44:43 PM
Just seen TA on the livestream - a brain the size of the planet, and they get him to read out tweets  ;D

I'm wondering if he's going to get a tattoo to match his colleague Matt Taylor's (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30019303) when the landing is successful?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on November 12, 2014, 04:11:35 PM
Get in there! Well done TA! (And your minions,too)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on November 12, 2014, 04:14:36 PM
Congratulations on a successful landing on 67P  :D

Really pleased for you TA and everyone involved
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on November 12, 2014, 04:50:25 PM
REALLY chuffed to bits for you all TA!  :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on November 12, 2014, 05:12:41 PM
Great achievement - it's bloody cool!  :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on November 12, 2014, 06:17:24 PM
There are a few occasions* when the human race does something wonderful (in it's most literal sense). Congratulations to all those who made today's example happen.

* (Outwith Frost* gigs of course ;))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on November 12, 2014, 06:41:50 PM
Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about - I mean, it's hardly rocket science. Oh..  ;)

Seriously though, great stuff TA. I'm really pleased for you and the team. Looking forward to seeing the pictures from a comet.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Pedro on November 12, 2014, 06:45:56 PM
What they said. :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Rook on November 12, 2014, 08:02:47 PM
High five!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: lyn on November 12, 2014, 09:00:12 PM
As exciting as the moon landings and then some!
That rocks! So cool...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on November 13, 2014, 11:11:38 AM
(https://www.google.co.uk/logos/doodles/2014/philae-robotic-lander-lands-on-comet-67pchuryumovgerasimenko-5668009628663808-hp.gif)

'Nuff said.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 13, 2014, 11:50:06 AM
Congratulations!!  So very awesome.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 13, 2014, 06:04:44 PM
Quote from: sawtooth on November 12, 2014, 09:40:26 AM
Well yesterday I committed the most heinous act of basking in reflected glory!
My cries of 'I know that guy! I've had a curry with him!'
Anyway Mark, whatever happens in the next few hours you should all be bloody proud of yourselves for this amazing achievement. Well done.
That's just what I did as well, and a definite WORD there
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on November 13, 2014, 10:16:33 PM
Just saw that legendary media tart, TA, on the BBC 10 o'clock news. He does get around a bit, doesn't he?  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 13, 2014, 11:34:05 PM
pics.  OF A FREAKING COMET!!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157638315605535/?utm_source=nextdraft&utm_medium=email

congratulations, TA.  Just so damn amazing.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on November 14, 2014, 06:43:51 AM
Quote from: catherine on November 13, 2014, 10:16:33 PM
Just saw that legendary media tart, TA, on the BBC 10 o'clock news. He does get around a bit, doesn't he?  ;D
Gutted! I've just heard he's not on Graham Norton tonight
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Brom on November 14, 2014, 08:54:17 AM
I have trouble finding Ikea in Milton Keynes, and I've been there before, and it's signposted..... ~4billion miles!! Truly amazing!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on November 14, 2014, 09:22:26 AM
Quote from: catherine on November 13, 2014, 10:16:33 PM
Just saw that legendary media tart, TA, on the BBC 10 o'clock news. He does get around a bit, doesn't he?  ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  I did guffaw at that one Catherine!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on November 14, 2014, 09:56:50 AM
Quote from: catherine on November 13, 2014, 10:16:33 PM
Just saw that legendary media tart, TA, on the BBC 10 o'clock news. He does get around a bit, doesn't he?  ;D

Just watched it on iplayer :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 15, 2014, 10:37:49 AM
Hey, thanks all: truly, deeply appreciated comments from you all here  :-*

I've been running around in circles being a media tart (thank you, Catherine) all week, so this is the first time I've had a chance to drop by my friends' house, so to speak. Lovely people.

I must've been on endless BBC news broadcasts, telly, radio, the lot, including 5Live this morning; also did a lot with ITV in the past couple of days, as well Channel 4 with Jon Snow, Sky News, CNN, A Jazeera, and loads of others; I've completely and totally lost track of the number of times I've been miked up and powdered up (or not, putting full scary shiny pate on show under the lights). Sky At Night have a big programme on the week tomorrow, plus there were hour-long National Geographic and Discovery Channel documentaries where I fear I featured frequently.

Perhaps the highlight was broadcasting live on BBC News and BBC World simultaneously to millions (so I was told) with Becky Morelle during the landing moment itself. We were outside the real Rosetta control room, yakking, waiting for a signal, while watching the feed from the main control room you saw in all the shots, which is just used for big events because it looks more impressive  ;)

There was suddenly a big cheer from behind us in the Rosetta control room, which surprised us; but I figured it out and called the successful landing on telly five seconds before the delayed signals (don't ask me why) got to the MCR, where they then erupted too. Another Frost*ie first  :P

A media tart of the highest order indeed, but I hope at least some of it came across coherently.

But, but, but ... much more important than all the personal luvvie stuff, it has been a massive team achievement by everyone in ESA and our partner agencies: we really did something amazing this week. Yes, it would have been nice if Philae's docking systems had worked properly and we'd had more than 2.5 days of stuff before the battery ran out, but he's only sleeping in his dark nest. We got almost all of the primary science done as planned, and when we get closer to the Sun, he could come out of hibernation. And Rosetta is operating flawlessly and will give us grandstand seats when the comet blossoms into full life next year: it's not over by any means.

Finally, a big round of applause is needed for my comms team and our colleagues throughout ESA, who bust their guts to do enormous amounts of social media and other comms work this week and over all of 2014: while the mission itself has been hugely successful, I have no doubt that we played our part in helping it become a global-scale event, which was astonishing and humbling to be a part of.

'Nuff said. Thanks again for all the kind words: it has been a blast.

Am now going to finally drive the five hours home and reflect a bit in the car on what happened this week. Of course, I expect the phone to keep ringing from 98 separate, uncoordinated arms of the BBC to request further stuff. Never, ever give that lot your mobile number  8)


Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JakeWorrell on November 15, 2014, 12:23:05 PM
What an incredible achievement by the ESA team. It blows my tiny little mind when I try to think about what it is that has actually happened.

Congratulations to all involved!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on November 15, 2014, 01:49:56 PM
Meanwhile on newsbiscuit...

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2014/11/14/first-pictures-received-of-elated-boffins/

8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 15, 2014, 03:34:18 PM
heh
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 16, 2014, 04:54:29 PM
I liked this quote from TA that is still available on iPlayer I believe

Quote from: TAHere I am, brain the size of a planet and they leave me parking probes on comets................Now that's more like it
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on November 16, 2014, 05:17:40 PM
Which of his many appearances yielded that gem?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 16, 2014, 08:23:22 PM
Quote from: DueyC on November 16, 2014, 05:17:40 PM
Which of his many appearances yielded that gem?

The special private one I did on MikeylandTV, I think. Audience of one.  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on November 16, 2014, 10:42:55 PM
When Philae wakes, I trust this thread will come out of hibernation, too? I've enjoyed having this somewhat unique perspective that you've provided us here and truly hope it continues. And since you're the only one from the team here, you get all the credit.  :)

It's been enjoyable following the mission with you. Thank you for keeping us in the loop, Trapezium ARTist.  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 17, 2014, 01:10:32 AM
hear, hear!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 17, 2014, 10:20:45 AM
Thanks all again: is always a pleasure to know how many people are interested and following along.

Of course, it's important to realise that with Philae asleep now (perhaps to re-awake when we get closer to the Sun), the main Rosetta orbiter is carrying on, working very well, and studying the comet from a distance as it starts to wake up and spread its wings.

Although last week was Philae's, 2015 will be Rosetta's. Promises to be quite a ride.

And we're starting to plan a big event for 13 August, the day when 67P/C-G and Rosetta will be nearest the Sun. Expect something with a musical bent; I hope you all saw the various snippets of music that we released last week from Vangelis ...  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrUnzLsmZk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrUnzLsmZk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8bVOGN9jSg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8bVOGN9jSg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUpSVxoCcik (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUpSVxoCcik)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 17, 2014, 11:19:12 AM
Nice!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 17, 2014, 08:07:37 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 16, 2014, 08:23:22 PM
Quote from: DueyC on November 16, 2014, 05:17:40 PM
Which of his many appearances yielded that gem?

The special private one I did on MikeylandTV, I think. Audience of one.  ;)
Maybe I had a dream.   :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 17, 2014, 08:09:54 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on November 16, 2014, 10:42:55 PM
Thank you for keeping us in the loop, Trapezium ARTist.  ;)
You missed a trick. Where were you on the Sky at Night?

& probably a more pertinent question, What were you doing in the mission on launch day?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 17, 2014, 09:59:24 PM
Quote from: Mikey on November 17, 2014, 08:09:54 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on November 16, 2014, 10:42:55 PM
Thank you for keeping us in the loop, Trapezium ARTist.  ;)
You missed a trick. Where were you on the Sky at Night?

& probably a more pertinent question, What were you doing in the mission on launch day?

I was in there briefly, chatting to Lintott while looking at an iPad. I received an email from the producer, Rob Liddell, about half an hour before it was broadcast to say "thanks for all the great interview stuff [I did a fair amount with them], but it all ended up on the cutting room floor".

Tant pis, as they say in France (where I am this evening). Not like I didn't get plenty of air time on every other programme, eh? I think I'm on for hours in both of the National Geographic and Discovery Channel documentaries made earlier ;)

As for launch day, err, in March 2004 I was a researcher at the Astrophysikalisches Institut in Potsdam, shortly before moving to become a professor of astrophysics in Exeter. Completely comet-free.

Johnny Come-Lately, I know  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on November 18, 2014, 11:04:14 AM
I love the way you drop that into conversation: "Professor of Astrophysics - yeah, done that, got the t-shirt."
8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on November 18, 2014, 05:23:29 PM
As I suspected. Yahoo News has let the cat out of the bag (https://uk.news.yahoo.com/is-the-death-star-hidden-inside-the-rossetta-comet-144733366.html#ZigUkWK) regarding Rosetta. It's actually a mission to contact alien life, as allegedly NASA has been receiving radio signals from it for the last 20 years, and it is in actual fact an ancient spaceship.

"News site BT Watch showed off an anonymous email which seemed to prove that a European Space Agency (ESA) insider admitted the whole mission was set up to trace the mysterious signal."

Well, chaps and chapesses - we all know "a European Space Agency insider", don't we?  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on November 18, 2014, 06:06:15 PM
No chance. A true media tart would never do something anonymously  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 18, 2014, 11:16:59 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on November 18, 2014, 11:04:14 AM
I love the way you drop that into conversation: "Professor of Astrophysics - yeah, done that, got the t-shirt."
8)

For a while, I was double prof: simultaneously at the University of Potsdam and in Exeter.

But y'know what, I know loads of 'em: they're nothing special. Ten a penny.  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Rook on November 19, 2014, 08:01:48 AM
Quote from: RacingHippo on November 18, 2014, 11:04:14 AM
I love the way you drop that into conversation: "Professor of Astrophysics - yeah, done that, got the t-shirt."
8)

Heh. My Wife's actual job description is "Professor of Galactic Archaeology". Kinda makes her sound like a female cross between Indianna Jones and Han Solo...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on November 19, 2014, 09:10:42 AM
Quote from: Rook on November 19, 2014, 08:01:48 AM
Heh. My Wife's actual job description is "Professor of Galactic Archaeology". Kinda makes her sound like a female cross between Indianna Jones and Han Solo...
Now, THAT'S a proper job title...  :o 8)  and one which would keep Harrison Ford very busy.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 19, 2014, 05:23:18 PM
Quote from: D S on November 19, 2014, 09:10:42 AM
Quote from: Rook on November 19, 2014, 08:01:48 AM
Heh. My Wife's actual job description is "Professor of Galactic Archaeology". Kinda makes her sound like a female cross between Indianna Jones and Han Solo...
Now, THAT'S a proper job title...  :o 8)  and one which would keep Harrision Ford very busy.
Yeh, I like that  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on November 19, 2014, 08:17:18 PM
Way cooler than.....err.....never mind!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 18, 2014, 07:18:30 PM
As we approach the end of a truly amazing year for Rosetta, with plaudits pouring in from all over the place, I've been putting together a blog post about some of the music that has been inspired by the mission, ranging from the "Ambition" soundtrack, to orchestral suites, and the several pieces by Vangelis.

But in doing so, I finally found time to listen properly to the brilliant work done by John Crossley at the University of Derby, with his band Sigma 7, comprising current and former students there. They staged a live surround-sound performance in June, which is available in full on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg7ulZC-5Oo&spfreload=10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg7ulZC-5Oo&spfreload=10)

All the musical tracks are available on YouTube separately, with binaural versions as well for headphone fans. As just one sample, here's a track that most Frost*ies should enjoy, especially if you're also fans of Magenta. Great stuff and definitely deserves a wider audience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55wRoPGizC8&spfreload=10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55wRoPGizC8&spfreload=10)

I'm in conversation with John and we may well stage a new performance some time next year ... Celebr8.4, anyone?  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on January 23, 2015, 11:19:21 AM
TA broke the comet

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/22/rosetta-pictures-comet-67p-neck-crack

Bet he won't admit it though. And who's going to repair it, eh? Hooligans
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on January 23, 2015, 07:16:32 PM
Quote from: owen on January 23, 2015, 11:19:21 AM
TA broke the comet

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/22/rosetta-pictures-comet-67p-neck-crack

Bet he won't admit it though. And who's going to repair it, eh? Hooligans

Not guilty, your honour (as predicted)  8)

But actually, nothing would please us more than for the comet to fall apart during its closest approach to the Sun in August; we'd get to see the fresh interior of the beast, not just its dust-coated surface.

At least as long as we're more than 30km away at the time it happens  :o

But this gives me the excuse to post a link to the page of Atanas Valkov, the composer of the soundtrack to our slightly bonkers Rosetta sci-fi movie, "Ambition", who just released a full album of music including the soundtrack, but also a whole series of new tracks inspired by Rosetta and other ESA space missions.

http://www.atanasvalkov.com/2014/12/ambition-soundtrack-premiere-15-01-2015/ (http://www.atanasvalkov.com/2014/12/ambition-soundtrack-premiere-15-01-2015/)

Please do and take a listen to the samples and then buy it on eye-choons or somewhere: it's jolly good indeed.

Of course, I would say that, because I'm sampled on one of the tracks, which completes the set I need to finally join the exalted ranks (well, that Cox fellow is in there, so I'm not so sure) of Erdös-Bacon-Sabbath number holders. Have to mail in my application at the weekend: I think my EBS number is 13, dominated by my Sabbath number of 7. If anyone can help me with that, I can perhaps get below Coxy's 12  ;)

http://erdosbaconsabbath.com (http://erdosbaconsabbath.com)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on January 23, 2015, 07:18:55 PM
Could always do a King Tut and glue it back together, then run away and pretend you hadn't been there
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on June 14, 2015, 01:01:54 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33126885

YAY!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on June 14, 2015, 01:27:32 PM
You beat me to it, Rog! I bet TA is turning cartwheels. Fab news!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on June 14, 2015, 01:28:14 PM
Quote from: rogerg on June 14, 2015, 01:01:54 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33126885 (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33126885)

YAY!!

Just read that. Let's hope there will be enough power to at least finish the drilling. Be very interested in the resuts of that.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on June 14, 2015, 02:08:06 PM
Quote from: catherine on June 14, 2015, 01:27:32 PM
You beat me to it, Rog! I bet TA is turning cartwheels. Fab news!!

Our favourite media tart is already busy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33126885
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on June 14, 2015, 05:12:11 PM
Quote from: DueyC on June 14, 2015, 02:08:06 PM
Our favourite media tart is already busy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33126885 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33126885)

So does that mean we no longer refer to him as TA but as MT?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on June 14, 2015, 05:50:52 PM
So, the Beeb is reporting that Philae has just woken up. So obviously good news for TA?
Except the rumour is that it's been broadcasting for months but someone had his iPhone turned up too loud and it's only since he's lost his expensive head phones he's noticed a tapping sound which, his minions tell him, is the machine.  :P

Or not.

Looking forward to everyone's favourite MT to turn up on Newsnight and tell us all about it. Go TA! ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on June 14, 2015, 07:15:34 PM
Quote from: owen on June 14, 2015, 05:50:52 PM
Looking forward to everyone's favourite MT to turn up on Newsnight and tell us all about it. Go TA! ;)

He put in a brief appearance on Sky News at 5.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JakeWorrell on June 14, 2015, 07:22:01 PM
Just seen news of this as well, and of course the first thing I did was come to the Frost* forum ;)

Excellent, excellent news.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on June 14, 2015, 08:49:53 PM
Yes, it was rather surreal walking into the living room tonight when the BBC evening news was on and the 1st thing I saw was TA's face!  8) Great news - I'm really pleased that the amazing story continues.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on June 14, 2015, 10:09:36 PM
Quote from: DueyC on June 14, 2015, 07:15:34 PM
Quote from: owen on June 14, 2015, 05:50:52 PM
Looking forward to everyone's favourite MT to turn up on Newsnight and tell us all about it. Go TA! ;)

He put in a brief appearance on Sky News at 5.

Bugger. I missed that. I was watching the England match (not sure why, I'm Welsh)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on June 14, 2015, 10:13:31 PM
Tra-Media-um T-Art-ist was on the BBC News at 10 just now as well  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on June 14, 2015, 10:21:23 PM
A busy man! I'm sure once he's finished being MT, he'll get back in his phone box and emerge once more as our very own TA :)

But really exciting news!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on June 14, 2015, 11:57:08 PM
How marvellous! Well done TA (MT) and team.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on June 15, 2015, 06:20:31 PM
Hello, darlings: did you miss me? Of course, not; I was everywhere :P

Actually, it pissed me off royally: could Philae really not have chosen a workday to wake up on, so I could have gone cycling yesterday? Ruddy inconsiderate Lonely Robot (I'm sure that JM's album is all about Philae, really  ;))

Mad couple of days, really: endless MT stuff, all day today as well, and many things turned down due to lack of time as well. My proudest moment was doing a long interview with the Mail Online with my fingers crossed behind my back, only to find that they didn't use a bit of it in their article anyway.

And for those in Britland this evening, I'm supposed to be doing Newsnight at around 23:00 BST, taking part in a discussion not only about Rosetta and Philae, but also about the anthropomorphisation of spacecraft and robots with cute twitter feeds and cartoons (entirely guilty, your honour). Should be fun: hopefully Kirsty Wark will be nicer to me this time  ;)

Anyway, more seriously, thanks for all the positive comments and for following along: we're constantly amazed at quite how engaged the world has become in this "mission that keeps on giving".

But returning to the MT moniker, when I first saw that, I was sure you were confusing me with the Rosetta Project Scientist, Matt Taylor, he of the tattoos, and who will be picking up an award from Brian May at this ceremony in London tonight:

http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/features/2015-06-15/metal-hammer-golden-gods-2015-live-blog (http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/features/2015-06-15/metal-hammer-golden-gods-2015-live-blog)

Compared to him, I'm an amateur MT  ::)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on June 15, 2015, 11:27:51 PM
Having just watched The Sky at Night, and seeing this (https://twitter.com/JagerUK/status/610533210955628545/photo/1) and listening to this (https://soundcloud.com/teamrockradio/matt-taylor-at-the-golden-gods), I'd tend to agree, MT does rather out-MT you!

Still, TA is *our* MT :D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on June 15, 2015, 11:51:40 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on June 15, 2015, 11:27:51 PM
Having just watched The Sky at Night, and seeing this (https://twitter.com/JagerUK/status/610533210955628545/photo/1) and listening to this (https://soundcloud.com/teamrockradio/matt-taylor-at-the-golden-gods), I'd tend to agree, MT does rather out-MT you!

Still, TA is *our* MT :D

Aww, shucks ...  :-*

As for Newsnight, well, I'll leave others to comment on what they might have seen. What a waste of electrons (and lots of my time). Someone clearly came to the party with an agenda in mind, and it wasn't me ...

Hope I kept my cool though, at least a little.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on June 16, 2015, 03:14:37 AM
My 9 yr old daughter was snuggled up next to me earlier this evening, reading Philae's tweets and giggling at the fact that a machine sitting on a comet hurtling through space has a Twitter account. I was tickled to hear Philae was awake and am looking forward to hearing what the data has to tell us. It's beyond fascinating that this mission is a reality. I hope Philae transmits for years and years to come.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on June 16, 2015, 12:08:13 PM
Bugger. I missed all this  >:(
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on June 16, 2015, 01:31:39 PM
Quote from: Mikey on June 16, 2015, 12:08:13 PM
Bugger. I missed all this  >:(

TA - you need to orchestrate a "Wake Up Mikey" campaign!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on June 16, 2015, 05:40:54 PM
The interview with Philae, about whether TA was cute, can be seen here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05zrf54/newsnight-15062015) for the next 29 days.

:)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on June 16, 2015, 05:44:36 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on June 16, 2015, 01:31:39 PM
Quote from: Mikey on June 16, 2015, 12:08:13 PM
Bugger. I missed all this  >:(

TA - you need to orchestrate a "Wake Up Mikey" campaign!

OK, you're on: send in your six-second Vine or six-hour prog epic via YouTube to "Wake Up Mikey!", with a link here.

Winning entry by Saturday-ish or whenever I can be arsed, as judged solely by me and without any recourse in any way whatsoever, especially if there are too many entries for me to even bother watching, gets a scale model of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko delivered to their door sometime, somehow.

Pedro doesn't get to win because, well, he's too good at this sort of thing always. Unless he's really, really good this time. And he's bound to enter anyway.

Well, except ... when was he last seen round these parts, exactly?

(Gonzo: unfortunately you'll need to schedule some bereavement counselling for your daughter now: highly unlikely that Philae will stay alive for much more than October-ish at best, and besides, in September 2016, we're probably going to land Rosetta on the comet, at which point, it's all truly sayonara.)

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on June 17, 2015, 03:26:14 AM
I reject this scenario and insert my own as it is clear to me that Philae is certain to be mysteriously powered again, be it by nature, a curious lifeform or Starfleet and continue to talk to us long after its expiration date. If not, October's good, too.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on June 17, 2015, 01:22:12 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on June 16, 2015, 01:31:39 PM
Quote from: Mikey on June 16, 2015, 12:08:13 PM
Bugger. I missed all this  >:(

TA - you need to orchestrate a "Wake Up Mikey" campaign!
I wish somebody would, he's useless
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JakeWorrell on June 17, 2015, 06:32:50 PM
Haha I just watched that News Night thing... was it an interview? What a load of nonsense. I'm angry on your behalf TA.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on June 17, 2015, 09:00:33 PM
It's all this gender stereotyping, you know. Rosetta being the non-adventurous female who sits back meekly while Philae (the brave little boy lander) gets all the glory.

In my book, flying hundreds of millions of miles to actually get to the comet is no mean achievement... I get the feeling that whatever genders had been assigned to Rosetta and Philae, that woman would have picked a fight. As a woman myself, I didn't feel it was in any way belittling; I was just really impressed at the amazing achievement by ESA and our very own MT.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on June 17, 2015, 09:53:24 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on June 15, 2015, 11:51:40 PM

As for Newsnight, well, I'll leave others to comment on what they might have seen. What a waste of electrons (and lots of my time). Someone clearly came to the party with an agenda in mind, and it wasn't me ...

Hope I kept my cool though, at least a little.
Is that what they call dumbing down?
or just dumb?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JakeWorrell on June 17, 2015, 10:27:13 PM
Quote from: catherine on June 17, 2015, 09:00:33 PMI get the feeling that whatever genders had been assigned to Rosetta and Philae, that woman would have picked a fight.

Yes, I agree Catherine, it was the lady in the interview that was assigning the gender stereotypes.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on June 18, 2015, 01:20:18 AM
If Philae's full name was Philae Cyrus, then she might have gotten it right.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on June 18, 2015, 10:12:10 AM
Quote from: JakeWorrell on June 17, 2015, 06:32:50 PM
Haha I just watched that News Night thing... was it an interview? What a load of nonsense. I'm angry on your behalf TA.

Thanks, Owen  8)

I wasn't happy at the end of the interview, but got a couple of apologetic messages from the Newsnight producers, as well as positive comments from several of my friends at the BBC who thought it was stupid, and that I handled it well.

As for the gender stereotyping thing and as Catherine has pointed out, anyone who has really followed the mission and our anthropomorphised cartoons (as the other guest clearly had not) will know that Rosetta is the much bigger explorer here, with the plucky and klutzy Philae just along for the ride most of the time. Sure, "he" has had his moments of glory and the public are fairly fixated on him alone, but for us, Rosetta is the real hero.

Plus, hey, Rosetta is rather obviously a female name, so for gender balance / equality reasons, it seemed right to make Philae a boy.

We also attracted a small amount of gender bias criticism for our sci-fi film, "Ambition", by making Aidan "Littlefinger" Gillen the "master", and Aisling Franciosi the "apprentice". But in that case, it was a matter of going down the casting list one-by-one to fill the "master" role first, depending on availability / interest, and rest assured that there were several high profile actresses on that list, before Aidan said "yes". (Of course, we were thrilled that he did, but there were many in the mix).

And once we had the "master" cast, we obviously wanted to cast the "apprentice" the opposite gender for balance again.

But keep in mind that Aisling "graduated" in "Ambition", and so could yet make a return in the future as a kick-ass master herself ...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on June 18, 2015, 02:39:45 PM
I'd like to see that woman park a baking tray on a pebble a gazillion miles away powered only by a couple of Duracell batteries
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on July 17, 2015, 04:16:53 PM
Ooh looky, MT's won an award for being a, er, media tart  :P

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/07/17/rosettaphilae-outreach-team-win-sir-arthur-clarke-award/
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 17, 2015, 04:32:03 PM
Cheers, TA!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 17, 2015, 08:02:18 PM
Quote from: DueyC on July 17, 2015, 04:16:53 PM
Ooh looky, MT's won an award for being a, er, media tart  :P

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/07/17/rosettaphilae-outreach-team-win-sir-arthur-clarke-award/

Well, if you're gonna do it, do it to the max  8)

Actually, it's a really great recognition for my team here, as well as everyone else doing outreach and education for Rosetta and Philae. The mission itself has very deservedly received quite a few awards in the last 12 months, but this is the first one that has specifically identified the work done by the communications team.

And while, of course, we couldn't have done anything at all without the mission itself (although if you believe the conspiracy theorists, we made the whole thing up, so maybe you don't need an actual mission at all), I do semi-privately like to think that the work done on communications helped make it all that little bit bigger in the public eye  ;)

Plus, of course, if anyone remembers one of the first Rosetta press briefings, back in December 2013, I used a couple of the brilliant Frost*ie collaborative limericks in my pitch, so in a sense, you're all winners too! 

How did they go now? Ah yes ...

Old ISON has fizzled away,
To many astronomers' dismay.
But fret not, my friends,
Fresh starts follow ends,
Rosetta will soon be at play.

She'll be waking in January, you see,
To drop off her lander, Philae,
Down onto the ice,
Info in a trice,
All about comet 67P.


Lovely stuff ...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on July 17, 2015, 08:37:55 PM
Very well deserved I say :) Good on ya Sir, and your team.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on July 17, 2015, 10:46:46 PM
Top man ;D ;D

We couldn't have done it without you
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 20, 2015, 10:36:25 PM
Uh oh. Looks as if things have gone silent again...  :-\
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33596274
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 21, 2015, 08:37:03 AM
Quote from: D S on July 20, 2015, 10:36:25 PM
Uh oh. Looks as if things have gone silent again...  :-\
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33596274

Naah, don't worry too much ... that's a very negative reading of our original blog post on the topic:

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/07/20/rosetta-and-philae-status-update/ (http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/07/20/rosetta-and-philae-status-update/)

It would appear as though someone at Reuters over-interpreted that and then both the BBC and the Guardian re-ran their agency release with minimal editing. I happen to know that of the reasons is that Jonathan Amos, the BBC's main space journalist, is having a few days leave after spending all week at the New Horizons event in the US last week  ;)

The fact is that we've only had sporadic / intermittent contact with Philae since we first heard from it again in mid-June: there's nothing new in that, and indeed, we experienced a two week break in contact earlier, while the current gap is less.

Our blog post was intended to give some additional technical background to the current status and efforts being made by all involved to try to get a more stable connection, including the sending of commands "in the blind" to reset some of the on-board parameters.

In an ideal world, we'd have Rosetta closer to the comet and lander to try and get a stronger signal, but given the increasing cometary activity, we're having to stand back at about 170-190 km, to avoid the star trackers getting confused by dust particles. But we don't actually think that the distance is the main issue, so this is a bit of a red herring.

Ultimately though, even if Philae doesn't do more science, it already did a lot back in November and those results will be published in the next couple of weeks. And of course, the main part of the mission, Rosetta itself, is continuing to do amazing science ...  8)

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 21, 2015, 01:03:09 PM
Phew - good!  I should know better than to believe everything I read online.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on July 21, 2015, 01:12:07 PM
Quote from: D S on July 21, 2015, 01:03:09 PM
Phew - good!  I should know better than to believe everything I read online.
You should know what those Forum jobbies are like  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 21, 2015, 03:25:07 PM
Good news, TA!  And nice to get it from the source!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 21, 2015, 06:05:43 PM
Quote from: Mikey on July 21, 2015, 01:12:07 PM
Quote from: D S on July 21, 2015, 01:03:09 PM
Phew - good!  I should know better than to believe everything I read online.
You should know what those Forum jobbies are like  ;)
"I never believe anything I read on the internet." Abraham Lincoln
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on July 22, 2015, 01:29:11 AM
That IS good news.  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 31, 2015, 07:20:54 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33720951
More from MT.  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 31, 2015, 08:58:02 AM
Quote from: D S on July 31, 2015, 07:20:54 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33720951
More from MT.  ;)

Yes, sorry; I was on ITV News (no, I don't watch it either  ;)) last night as well, wearing the same old polo shirt.

Blame Philae: he's the real media tart, sitting in his dark little gully on the comet, constantly dreaming up new ways to draw attention to his somewhat erratic activities.

That said, all this running round down here on Earth in his name and Rosetta's does open doors in funny places: I gave a lunchtime talk to 120 of the staff at Foster + Partners architecture practice in London yesterday.

Another cool bunch of people building amazing things 8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 31, 2015, 01:24:27 PM
Really exciting stuff!!  Congratulations!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 02, 2015, 12:10:22 PM
After having resisted for so long, I'm afraid that a moment of weakness / madness / MT-ness came over me yesterday, and I made the rash decision to open a Twitter account: @markmccaughrean

I always was a late developer and at least it's not a tattoo  ;)

Mostly intended to pass along some snippets about the cool spacey things we do, but I've already managed to tweet a link to JM's "Lonely Robot" album (rather appropriate, donchathink?) and a picture of our cat.

I'm sure I'll come to regret this ...

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 02, 2015, 01:04:05 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 31, 2015, 08:58:02 AM
Yes, sorry; I was on ITV News (no, I don't watch it either  ;)) last night as well, wearing the same old polo shirt.
Frost* promotional opportunity missed. Red Card & a 3 post ban  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on August 02, 2015, 01:57:31 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 02, 2015, 12:10:22 PM
After having resisted for so long, I'm afraid that a moment of weakness / madness / MT-ness came over me yesterday, and I made the rash decision to open a Twitter account: @markmccaughrean

Consider yourself followed  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 02, 2015, 02:09:26 PM
Quote from: DueyC on August 02, 2015, 01:57:31 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 02, 2015, 12:10:22 PM
After having resisted for so long, I'm afraid that a moment of weakness / madness / MT-ness came over me yesterday, and I made the rash decision to open a Twitter account: @markmccaughrean

Consider yourself followed  8)

Eek!  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on August 02, 2015, 02:14:28 PM
I'm stalking following too :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: catherine on August 03, 2015, 11:28:55 AM
Me too :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on August 03, 2015, 11:56:07 AM
If I can get a decent connection I will >:(
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on August 03, 2015, 02:42:03 PM
Ummm.... The expression "duck to water" comes to mind
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 03:08:22 PM
Quote from: owen on August 03, 2015, 02:42:03 PM
Ummm.... The expression "duck to water" comes to mind
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
Quote from: owen on August 03, 2015, 02:42:03 PM
Ummm.... The expression "duck to water" comes to mind

Quack quack.

It helps that I'm surrounded by a team of social media experts, near and far, to hold my hand ... and two teenage children who think it's the lamest thing I've ever done (and that takes some doing).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 03:36:42 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
It helps that I'm surrounded by a team of social media experts,
A team of tarts?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 04:08:14 PM
Quote from: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 03:36:42 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
It helps that I'm surrounded by a team of social media experts,
A team of tarts?

An apposite collective noun would be "plate", surely.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 04:09:52 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 04:08:14 PM
Quote from: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 03:36:42 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
It helps that I'm surrounded by a team of social media experts,
A team of tarts?

An apposite collective noun would be "plate", surely.
A plate of tarts?
Yes, I'd go with that :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on August 03, 2015, 09:13:35 PM
You tease!  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 09:47:53 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)
The new Frost* album  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 09:48:14 PM
Quote from: Mikey on August 03, 2015, 09:47:53 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)
The new Frost* album  :)
Sorry, wrong thread
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 04, 2015, 02:06:33 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)


ooh!  Exciting!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 04, 2015, 08:38:27 AM
Quote from: rogerg on August 04, 2015, 02:06:33 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)

Woah, woah, woah ... it's not going to be that good ...  :o  ::)  8)


ooh!  Exciting!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on August 04, 2015, 09:24:57 AM
No TA, you can only retweet in Twitter. Here you're supposed to make a comment ::)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 04, 2015, 02:06:49 PM
heh
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 04, 2015, 04:28:58 PM
Quote from: rogerg on August 04, 2015, 02:06:49 PM
heh
No heh heh!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 04, 2015, 06:33:11 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 04, 2015, 08:38:27 AM
Quote from: rogerg on August 04, 2015, 02:06:33 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 03, 2015, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on August 03, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Awesome recently released pics from Philae btw! The (first) descent sequence (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56251-descending-to-comet-67p/) is especially good!

If you liked that, wait a couple of days: we have a treat in store for you  ;)

Woah, woah, woah ... it's not going to be that good ...  :o  ::)  8)


ooh!  Exciting!!

Oops  :-[

Obviously shouldn't be let loose on all these new-fangled gizmotronics.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on August 06, 2015, 09:27:45 PM
So 1 year at the comet huh?

Nice set of pics, and I liked these (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Highlights/Comet_in_3D) from a day or two ago.

Though NASA have been curious on Mars for 3 years (same day, heh)! And they did celebrate in style! (http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1847) (be warned, the panorama if you try and view it is HUUUUGGGEE!).

And, wierdly, whilst celebrating man's grand achievements on this day, we can also shudder at his darker side... 125 years of the electric chair, and 70 years since Hiroshima.



Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 03:06:16 PM
the MT is coming to Cardiff on the 24th of August to give a talk get your free ticket here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rosetta-to-catch-a-comet-tickets-17965646733?aff=efblike

I'll be there  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 10, 2015, 04:37:40 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 03:06:16 PM
the MT is coming to Cardiff on the 24th of August to give a talk get your free ticket here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rosetta-to-catch-a-comet-tickets-17965646733?aff=efblike

I'll be there  :)

Look forward to it, Mike.

Also scheduled for talks in the second half of this year I have Manchester, Iceland, China, New York, Brussels, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Mexico, and so on, although many will be at conferences with registration fees or essentially closed events. The one in Mexico will be at the Guadalajara Book Fair, public audience said to be 750,000 in 10 days ... eek.

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 06:28:14 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 10, 2015, 04:37:40 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 03:06:16 PM
the MT is coming to Cardiff on the 24th of August to give a talk get your free ticket here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rosetta-to-catch-a-comet-tickets-17965646733?aff=efblike

I'll be there  :)

Look forward to it, Mike.



I am, shall I bring a camera?  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on August 10, 2015, 07:29:46 PM
when are you coming to Manc-land?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 11, 2015, 08:36:50 AM
Quote from: owen on August 10, 2015, 07:29:46 PM
when are you coming to Manc-land?

2 September, Owen, speaking at this conference:

http://www.case.org/Conferences_and_Training/CASE_Europe_Annual_Conference_2015.html  (http://www.case.org/Conferences_and_Training/CASE_Europe_Annual_Conference_2015.html)

Probably not open to the public, although I doubt that security will be up to much ;-)

Am also trying to fit in an appointment at Cosmic Ears in Stockport to have some new earphones made. Left my trusty old Etymotics ER-4P's + custom silicone earmoulds on a BA flight recently ... sigh.

http://www.cosmicears.com (http://www.cosmicears.com)

Anyone on here had experience with them?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on August 11, 2015, 09:11:37 AM
The woes and perils of an MT
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on August 15, 2015, 07:24:37 PM
Ooo... pretty (http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/56340-approaching-perihelion-animation/) :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 21, 2015, 07:29:07 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 06:28:14 PM
I am, shall I bring a camera?  ;D

Yes/No? ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 22, 2015, 09:43:37 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 21, 2015, 07:29:07 PM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 10, 2015, 06:28:14 PM
I am, shall I bring a camera?  ;D

Yes/No? ;)

Oh, sure, yes. Shouldn't be any problem at all at the museum, I think. Bring one to ESTEC and, well ...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on August 23, 2015, 09:27:23 PM
Will you be doing the presentations in the form of multiple haiku?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 25, 2015, 07:30:19 PM
A few photos from last night:

How you pronounce McCaughrean  :)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5791/20851062586_0fd7dca38c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xLx9t5)How you pronounce McCaughrean (https://flic.kr/p/xLx9t5) by Mike Evans (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/), on Flickr

Presenting in the dark :
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5694/20877345225_35021061e8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xNRRo2)Mark delivering his presentation (https://flic.kr/p/xNRRo2) by Mike Evans (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/), on Flickr

Answering a question from one of the younger members of the audience:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5634/20254791184_d3be767726_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wRR6KE)Mark answers a question from a young girl (https://flic.kr/p/wRR6KE) by Mike Evans (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/), on Flickr

MT gets asked for a selfie  ;)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/720/20851133916_f80b963d0a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xLxvEU)Selfie time (https://flic.kr/p/xLxvEU) by Mike Evans (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/), on Flickr


Full set HERE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/albums/72157657337529618)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 25, 2015, 10:23:44 PM
> How you pronounce McCaughrean

Now that's a corker!  ;D

great pics, Mike, and congratulations, TA!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 25, 2015, 10:25:25 PM
Thanks Rog :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 26, 2015, 09:49:42 AM
And thanks to you for the pictures, Mike: very good to see you there in what was a largely-unrelated-to-Frost* environment.

Except Mike was wearing a Frost* shirt, if I recall correctly, and I might have used a one-minute excerpt of the instrumental version of Saline to accompany a not-yet-released film from Rosetta during my talk ...  8)

Will have to ask the boss if there's any chance of getting proper permission to use that when we actually put the film out: it worked very nicely, IMHO  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 26, 2015, 10:42:38 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 26, 2015, 09:49:42 AM
And thanks to you for the pictures, Mike: very good to see you there in what was a largely-unrelated-to-Frost* environment.

Except Mike was wearing a Frost* shirt, if I recall correctly, and I might have used a one-minute excerpt of the instrumental version of Saline to accompany a not-yet-released film from Rosetta during my talk ...  8)

Will have to ask the boss if there's any chance of getting proper permission to use that when we actually put the film out: it worked very nicely, IMHO  ;)

No problem mate, good to see you.

Yes I was wearing a Frost* hoodie and t-shirt  :)

Hope you enjoyed your brief visit to Cardiff and had a safe trip home  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 26, 2015, 11:26:05 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 26, 2015, 10:42:38 AM
No problem mate, good to see you.

Yes I was wearing a Frost* hoodie and t-shirt  :)

Hope you enjoyed your brief visit to Cardiff and had a safe trip home  :)

Indeed: very enjoyable, and a bottle of Penderyn Welsh whisky in my possession thanks to the organisers  :)

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on August 26, 2015, 02:01:32 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 26, 2015, 11:26:05 AM
Quote from: MikeEvs on August 26, 2015, 10:42:38 AM
No problem mate, good to see you.

Yes I was wearing a Frost* hoodie and t-shirt  :)

Hope you enjoyed your brief visit to Cardiff and had a safe trip home  :)

Indeed: very enjoyable, and a bottle of Penderyn Welsh whisky in my possession thanks to the organisers  :)

Nice, I've passed the Penderyn distillery many times but never been there even though it's only 16 miles from my house  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 15, 2015, 02:12:47 PM
Here's a small jewel for you, my lovely Frost*ie friends:

A realtime movie version of the last minute of Philae's slow, hypnotic descent onto Comet 67P/C-G last November.

Made by beautiful interpolation VFX work by Jakub Knapik at Platige Image, the makers of our sci-fi mini-epic, "Ambition", with musical accompaniment in the form of the instrumental version of Saline from the EIMA special edition, courtesy of the boss.

Thanks, Jem: you're a star  8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJOh9DL6yBQ
http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/09/15/philaes-descent-the-directors-cut/

And Frost* get a mention on the BBC to boot (under the Science pages: whodathunkit? ;)):

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34259139
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on September 15, 2015, 04:34:04 PM
AND! AND!
A subtle nod in this morning's tweet (https://twitter.com/markmccaughrean/status/643716477468704768)  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on September 15, 2015, 04:35:57 PM
Liked that. Big thumbs up
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 15, 2015, 05:05:21 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on September 15, 2015, 04:34:04 PM
AND! AND!
A subtle nod in this morning's tweet (https://twitter.com/markmccaughrean/status/643716477468704768)  8)

We aim to please  ;)

Was my idea to make this movie and I tried myself, but did a hopeless job. Our Platige Image movie makers just aced it, and then it was entirely clear that it needed a soundtrack, to emphasise the sheer wonder of being on-board a spacecraft as it slowly drifted down onto the surface of a comet.

As you do.

Hope you liked the choice of music: Snowman has been reserved for another day  8)

And thanks again to Jem for saying "yes".
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: MikeEvs on September 15, 2015, 08:46:55 PM
I'd seen it before  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on September 15, 2015, 09:10:27 PM
To quote Rogerg... heh...

:D

(And well done there sir!)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 15, 2015, 11:22:54 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on September 15, 2015, 09:10:27 PM
To quote Rogerg... heh...

:D

(And well done there sir!)

Thank you, thank you: I take it as a major career highlight to get Saline playing on the BBC's website, on the science pages no less  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 16, 2015, 12:26:33 AM
Super cool.  all the way around.

props, sirs!  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on September 16, 2015, 07:07:15 AM
Major thumbs up TA! First rate promotion of Frost* and almost certainly a first by getting them a mention on the BBC website. 8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: lyn on September 16, 2015, 07:45:25 AM
How lovely to wake up to discover early morning Frost*. Awesome work TA et al and Jem et al, both out of this world....
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 16, 2015, 01:30:45 PM
Woweee  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on September 16, 2015, 10:33:50 PM
Well done, TA.  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Pedro on September 16, 2015, 10:58:13 PM
Top work! :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 02, 2015, 01:03:46 AM
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/How_Rosetta_s_comet_got_its_shape

It's twins!

;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on October 02, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
That can't be official. No sign of a Media Tart anywhere
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 02, 2015, 11:19:38 AM
heh
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 02, 2015, 03:16:24 PM
Behind the scenes, always behind the scenes: I suspect my editing fingers may have run over that story 8)

On the more public front, here are a small handful of things that may be of use to those suffering from insomnia:

Talk (long) at Google HQ in April: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOiY-OCCRjs&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOiY-OCCRjs&feature=youtu.be)

Podcast interview with the wonderfully named The Cosmic Shed in August: http://thecosmicshed.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-ambition/ (http://thecosmicshed.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-ambition/)

Talk (short) at the World Economic Forum in September: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki3mqtwaa4E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki3mqtwaa4E)

Just marvel at the blingy LED screen in the last one: shiny, shiny ... pity the 480p upload from the WEF doesn't begin to do justice to it  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 03, 2015, 08:30:37 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on October 02, 2015, 03:16:24 PM
Behind the scenes, always behind the scenes:
Smirk

Only the true media tart would deny his involvement ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 12, 2015, 09:57:16 PM
You knew it was coming: Happy first birthday (sort of) to Philae!

One year to the day since we kicked him out of the house and down onto that comet. Rosetta was sad to see him go, but put on a brave face. Well, for the media at least ...

All the latest news at blogs.esa.int/rosetta (http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta), and for those of a whimsical disposition (what, here, on the Frost* forum; perish the thought), the latest cartoon episode is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibo3ppiv8Zk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibo3ppiv8Zk)

Awwww ... (get over it; it's a box of electronics  ;))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on February 12, 2016, 01:39:28 PM
MT's back!  8)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35559503

Sad to hear that's it for Philae but hey, what a wondreful life it had.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on February 12, 2016, 04:24:16 PM
Quote from: MTtoo cold to function.
I wish to register a complaint.
Shirley we could have a Frost* reference in there  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on February 12, 2016, 06:32:30 PM
Yes, though hardly unexpected. Still, with images like this (http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/files/2016/02/ESA_Rosetta_NAVCAM_20160205T060304enhanced.jpg) still coming in... and Rosetta's final descent to look forward to... exciting times!

And of course there was the big story of the week in gravity-land... with big numbers to boggle the brain (I make 3 solar masses about 10^50 Joules...  :o)

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on February 12, 2016, 08:15:09 PM
You got it. The box of electronics known as Plucky Philae has (probably) shuffled off his mortal coil, even though some of the scientists involved having been taking the Monty Python approach to denial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218)

Rosetta continues and, as Mordwin has pointed out, is doing great stuff. But come September, we'll be too far from the Sun for useful performance, so we'll drop it on the comet as well. Should be another big meedjuh day: plenty of cheers and tears all round.

In the meantime, those of you in the UK can watch the ITV News At Ten tonight for some more gratuitous Media Tartery. Sorry, but they told me they were going to edit out the bit where I said that these are Philae's "Dear Dead Days".

(And for DS, I was on BBC Radio Scotland this evening, I think :-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on February 12, 2016, 10:41:34 PM
Science!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on March 14, 2016, 12:56:21 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35799792
What's this?  An article all about a new ESA mission and no MT quote?  Slipping...
(No doubt we'll get some flimsy excuse such as he's not actually involved in this project. ;))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on March 14, 2016, 03:21:15 PM
MT spotted during ExoMars launch event this morning !
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on March 14, 2016, 09:53:31 PM
I wish I could be TA today because he's been Media Tarting around amazing people all day (v interesting talks btw), his favourite band is releasing a new album and promoting it with a fantastic new website, and now we're all off to Mars.
What a great monday innit?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on March 21, 2016, 02:18:54 PM
Quote from: manoncharles on March 14, 2016, 09:53:31 PM
I wish I could be TA today because he's been Media Tarting around amazing people all day (v interesting talks btw), his favourite band is releasing a new album and promoting it with a fantastic new website, and now we're all off to Mars.
What a great monday innit?

What she said :-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on March 21, 2016, 04:27:07 PM
You wish you could be TA? Who the hell are you then, MT?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on March 22, 2016, 09:44:06 AM
Quote from: owen on March 21, 2016, 04:27:07 PM
You wish you could be TA? Who the hell are you then, MT?

The shadow, the shape-shifter, the man in the gaps, the chamaeleon ...  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ipYOHjHlPw&list=RD1ipYOHjHlPw
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: sawtooth on March 24, 2016, 10:52:59 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on March 22, 2016, 09:44:06 AM
Quote from: owen on March 21, 2016, 04:27:07 PM
You wish you could be TA? Who the hell are you then, MT?

The shadow, the shape-shifter, the man in the gaps, the chamaeleon ...  ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ipYOHjHlPw&list=RD1ipYOHjHlPw

At first read I thought you had typed 'The man in the chaps' there TA. I thought to myself, that TA is a man of many talents, but line dancing would've been a bit left field! :-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on March 25, 2016, 10:35:24 AM
Someone told me "Talking to him is like talking to the internet" (I'm not going to say who :P)
Let's just start a "TA appreciation club".
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on March 25, 2016, 10:54:11 AM
Quote from: manoncharles on March 25, 2016, 10:35:24 AMLet's just start a "TA appreciation club".

This *is* the TA appreciation club, in as much as it's a place where I can come and appreciate all that he is doing for both space and prog.

It's, like, the main forum is for Frost* of course, a wide boulevard in a neon city with a synthesizer soundtrack, whilst the TAAC is a parallel path, leading off into space (and recollections of Yes concerts).

One simply couldn't wish for more.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on March 25, 2016, 12:39:28 PM
Quote from: JimD on March 25, 2016, 10:54:11 AM
Quote from: manoncharles on March 25, 2016, 10:35:24 AMLet's just start a "TA appreciation club".

This *is* the TA appreciation club, in as much as it's a place where I can come and appreciate all that he is doing for both space and prog.

It's, like, the main forum is for Frost* of course, a wide boulevard in a neon city with a synthesizer soundtrack, whilst the TAAC is a parallel path, leading off into space (and recollections of Yes concerts).

One simply couldn't wish for more.

Oh, good grief: stop it, you lot  8)

For those you interested in space and the way we made the sausage of Rosetta outreach and communications, here's a detailed set of articles by the brilliant people at ESA who I have the privilege of working with every day (whether I'm in the office or via email when away). Might be fun for some of you to read:

http://www.capjournal.org/issues/19/index.php
(http://www.capjournal.org/issues/19/index.php)

Am embarrassed that my picture appears in there so much, but I didn't select them or edit. Besides, most (!) of the team are a heck of a lot more attractive than me  :)

Anyway, I do very much appreciate being able to talk space with everyone here, and I'm hoping we'll have a few more space-prog-music cross-over loveliness for you as the year continues  ;)
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on March 25, 2016, 07:38:19 PM
Only the true messiah...........


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on March 25, 2016, 08:58:33 PM
That CAP journal is very very interesting, I'll try to read the previous issues when I have time ! Thanks for sharing TA.
PS: someone's pictures appear even more often ; that attention-seeker Chury ! ;-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on March 26, 2016, 03:19:52 AM
But did you know Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Manitoba. The name comes from Western Cree words for muddy or brackish water, referring to Lake Winnipeg, which is just north of the city along the Red River. The region was a trading centre for aboriginal peoples long before the arrival of Europeans. French traders built the first fort on the site in 1738. A settlement was founded in 1812 by the Selkirk settlers of the Red River Colony, the nucleus of which was incorporated as the City of Winnipeg in 1873. The census of 2011 lists Winnipeg as the seventh most populous municipality in Canada. Known as the "Gateway to the West", it is a transportation hub with a diversified economy. Its annual festivals include the Festival du Voyageur, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Folklorama.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 03:21:51 PM
Righty-ho, you lot ... some more Rosetta news for you all, this time with a decidedly proggy flavour.

As some of you will know, the mission will end on 30 September this year when we deliberately land Rosetta on Comet 67P. As the two head out in the outer solar system, there's not much power being generated by the solar panels and so we'd have to put Rosetta back to sleep again, with no guarantee that it'll wake up a second time, as in early 2014.

Instead, we're going to land it, or more properly, make a "controlled impact" at about half walking pace, doing science all the way down. Rosetta won't survive landing, as it was never designed to do this, and the main comms antenna won't point at Earth anymore anyway.

But it'll be a cool way to go out and we'll have another big media event at our mission ops centre in Germany.

Where's the prog, I hear you ask? Well, just a week beforehand on 23 September and as announced today by Decca Records / Universal Music, legenedary synth twiddler, Mr Vangelis himself, will release the first studio album he's made in 15-18 years (depending on who you believe at Decca), and the name is "Rosetta".

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/07/29/new-vangelis-album-inspired-by-esas-rosetta-mission/ (http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/07/29/new-vangelis-album-inspired-by-esas-rosetta-mission/)
http://www.elsew.com/data/latest.htm (http://www.elsew.com/data/latest.htm)
http://www.udiscovermusic.com/vangelis-re-enters-the-stratosphere (http://www.udiscovermusic.com/vangelis-re-enters-the-stratosphere)

Yup, a whole album of music inspired by the mission: very cool. Three tracks were composed and released at the time of Philae's landing in November 2014, but these have been reworked alongside another ten new tracks. We didn't commission it or pay for it; he was just inspired and went off and did it. Top chap.

I have the album and there's some corking classic Big V stuff in there, including one track at least that could be straight from Blade Runner.

Big pleasure to be involved, I can tell you.

Now, if only I can get to Jon Anderson when he gets his gong at the Prog Awards in early September and tell the two to patch things up and record another album together, I'd be one happy bunny.

More Rosetta surprises to come over the next two months  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 29, 2016, 04:40:24 PM
I saw something about this the other day.  Very cool!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 05:59:10 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 03:21:51 PM

Now, if only I can get to Jon Anderson when he gets his gong at the Prog Awards in early September and tell the two to patch things up and record another album together, I'd be one happy bunny.

More Rosetta surprises to come over the next two months  ;)

Cool! And if you can twist Jon's arm I'll be a happy bunny too. But I thought the falling out originated with Vangelis? Do you have any arm-twisting influence there?

More surprises? What fun!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on July 29, 2016, 06:06:04 PM
That's very cool TA!

63 days left, but I'm sure Rosetta will be sent of into the eternal night is splendid fashion! (And there's no doubt enough data to keep scientists busy for many years to come too).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on July 29, 2016, 08:28:24 PM
Very cool indeed :D :D

But the fault was Jon's: he used some stuff (or possibly mixed something, I forget) and Mr V took offence. And has supposedly never forgiven him
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 08:43:09 PM
Quote from: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 05:59:10 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 03:21:51 PM

Now, if only I can get to Jon Anderson when he gets his gong at the Prog Awards in early September and tell the two to patch things up and record another album together, I'd be one happy bunny.

More Rosetta surprises to come over the next two months  ;)

Cool! And if you can twist Jon's arm I'll be a happy bunny too. But I thought the falling out originated with Vangelis? Do you have any arm-twisting influence there?

Yep, I know Vangelis: have a video of me listening to him playing one night in his apartment. Will post it now that the secret's out :-)

Will see him soon again, I hope, so arms will be twisted. Yes, I know they fell out, but we can live in hope. They're old chaps now ...

More surprises? What fun!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 08:48:25 PM
Quote from: owen on July 29, 2016, 08:28:24 PM
Very cool indeed :D :D

But the fault was Jon's: he used some stuff (or possibly mixed something, I forget) and Mr V took offence. And has supposedly never forgiven him

I think Jon issued an alternate version of Page of Life in the US without V's permission, with some tracks dropped, some added, some editing, and complete resequencing.

Having some idea now of what a perfectionist V is and how closely he is involved in absolutely every part of something he puts out, I can see how Anderson doing this will have mightily pissed V off.

Whether he's willing to forgive & forget 18 years on, I don't know, and I haven't asked (because I didn't want to jeopardise this project  8)).

But now it's done, what've I got to lose, eh?  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on July 29, 2016, 09:39:38 PM
More surprises?? Please tell me Rosetta's landing gear will leave Frosterisk imprints.  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 10:12:53 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2016, 08:48:25 PM

I think Jon issued an alternate version of Page of Life in the US without V's permission, with some tracks dropped, some added, some editing, and complete resequencing.

Having some idea now of what a perfectionist V is and how closely he is involved in absolutely every part of something he puts out, I can see how Anderson doing this will have mightily pissed V off.

That's the story I heard. And having bought said CD, I'm with V on that ;-)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 10:13:34 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on July 29, 2016, 09:39:38 PM
More surprises?? Please tell me Rosetta's landing gear will leave Frosterisk imprints.  ;D

Word  :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 30, 2016, 10:44:12 AM
Quote from: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 10:13:34 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on July 29, 2016, 09:39:38 PM
More surprises?? Please tell me Rosetta's landing gear will leave Frosterisk imprints.  ;D

Word  :)

Yeah, except Rosetta doesn't have any landing gear: was never designed to land, so its arrival on the surface will be rather, umm, terminal  :o
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: gr8gonzo on July 30, 2016, 07:34:46 PM
I had a feeling you were going to say that. Falling satellites, indeed.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Pedro on August 09, 2016, 11:37:25 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 30, 2016, 10:44:12 AM
Quote from: DueyC on July 29, 2016, 10:13:34 PM
Quote from: gr8gonzo on July 29, 2016, 09:39:38 PM
More surprises?? Please tell me Rosetta's landing gear will leave Frosterisk imprints.  ;D

Word  :)

Yeah, except Rosetta doesn't have any landing gear: was never designed to land, so its arrival on the surface will be rather, umm, terminal  :o
A Frost*erisk-shaped crater would be acceptable.  :)
(I'm guessing no-one will ever see it so you can tell us it will be ;))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on August 16, 2016, 01:04:52 AM
Quote from: Pedro on August 09, 2016, 11:37:25 PM
(I'm guessing no-one will ever see it so you can tell us it will be ;))

I hope you're wrong, hell. With science improving every freaking day, I hope someone will ever see 67-P after the Rosetta mission.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 21, 2016, 09:16:39 PM
Quote from: manoncharles on August 16, 2016, 01:04:52 AM
Quote from: Pedro on August 09, 2016, 11:37:25 PM
(I'm guessing no-one will ever see it so you can tell us it will be ;))

I hope you're wrong, hell. With science improving every freaking day, I hope someone will ever see 67-P after the Rosetta mission.

Oh, the comet will be visible every 6.5 years, but only from a great distance, with zero hope of being able to see the nucleus, let alone its surface. That'd take another space mission ...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:24:58 PM
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned this little video launcing the new album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsW1SudRL4

It starts with some self-styled "Prof" gushing embarrasingly, so you'd best just skip to 0:27 when he finally shuts up :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:26:29 PM
PS. I'm secretly very proud of our very own Media Tart.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 22, 2016, 06:54:46 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:24:58 PM
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned this little video launcing the new album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsW1SudRL4

It starts with some self-styled "Prof" gushing embarrasingly, so you'd best just skip to 0:27 when he finally shuts up :)

You should have heard what I would have been willing to say if I'd been paid.

Besides, I was probably the least gushy of the lot: our astronauts are true pros at it  :P

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 22, 2016, 06:55:17 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:26:29 PM
PS. I'm secretly very proud of our very own Media Tart.

Aww, shucks.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 22, 2016, 07:08:33 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:24:58 PM
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned this little video launcing the new album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsW1SudRL4

It starts with some self-styled "Prof" gushing embarrasingly, so you'd best just skip to 0:27 when he finally shuts up :)


Not available in my (stupid) country.  :(
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on August 22, 2016, 07:12:42 PM
Very cool TA! :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on August 22, 2016, 08:09:27 PM
Quote from: rogerg on August 22, 2016, 07:08:33 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:24:58 PM
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned this little video launcing the new album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsW1SudRL4

It starts with some self-styled "Prof" gushing embarrasingly, so you'd best just skip to 0:27 when he finally shuts up :)


Not available in my (stupid) country.  :(


Coming soon, I'm told by Universal / Decca.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on August 22, 2016, 10:11:14 PM
yay!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 05, 2016, 03:18:53 PM
They found it!!  http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Philae_found

Cool!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on September 05, 2016, 06:11:59 PM
Found (if only just in frame!) in images taken just 4 weeks before final descent (to the strains of Falling Down... at least in my head :D, though given the likely velocities Hypoventilate is probably closer to the mark ;))

25 days to go... what will TA find to do instead? (oh yes, Mars is it not? :))

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 05, 2016, 06:21:51 PM
Pretty bloody amazing.

Found out from the search team at 23:30 last night and immediately got to work on coordinating the release materials. Had to chair a conference session this morning, but was itching to get away and work with my team: then some feverish work on the images you now see.

And they're brilliant: completely unambiguous detection of Philae. I certainly never expected it to be that obvious. Magic.

As for the final music, try "Snowman" on for size: works pretty well, lyrically.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 05, 2016, 06:53:07 PM
Congratulations!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 05, 2016, 07:21:28 PM
Quote from: rogerg on September 05, 2016, 06:53:07 PM
Congratulations!!

Thanks, Rog  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on September 05, 2016, 08:27:02 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 05, 2016, 06:21:51 PM
Pretty bloody amazing.

Found out from the search team at 23:30 last night and immediately got to work on coordinating the release materials. Had to chair a conference session this morning, but was itching to get away and work with my team: then some feverish work on the images you now see.

And they're brilliant: completely unambiguous detection of Philae. I certainly never expected it to be that obvious. Magic.

As for the final music, try "Snowman" on for size: works pretty well, lyrically.

Yeah, and the rest of the image is pretty damn awesome too... such detail... you can really get a feel for the pile of icy rubble it is.

Ending up in a ditch was a bit unlucky... maybe it was the alchohol vapours (http://www.sci-news.com/space/science-perfume-comet-67pchuryumov-gerasimenko-02230.html) on the way down? ;)

And  good call on Snowman... I'll make to play as many versions as I can find that day in Rosetta's memory :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: lyn on September 05, 2016, 10:36:30 PM
Wow!  :o
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on September 06, 2016, 06:44:14 AM
You even got quoted in the Grauniad! Great pics too
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on September 29, 2016, 04:48:50 PM
OK, everyone: the day is almost upon us. Rosetta's last moments, descending to the surface of Comet 67P, will culminate in a controlled impact at roughly walking at 11:20 GMT / 12:20 BST / 13:20 CEST (current best estimate) tomorrow, Friday 30 September.

Hope you all follow along on www.esa.int. You'll probably be seeing quite a bit of my grinning fizzog in the media tomorrow as well, if you can bear it  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: ich_bin_besser on September 29, 2016, 05:32:57 PM
Hope to make it, but not sure yet. Have fun, anyways!  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on September 30, 2016, 12:25:06 AM
Exciting!
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 30, 2016, 06:04:02 AM
Lead story on breakfast news.
MT has missed this boat, sure there will be plenty more opportunities.


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Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on September 30, 2016, 07:57:48 AM
Indeed - just heard him being interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme!  :) Came across very well and explained the whole process very clearly.
TA has now survived being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman and John Humphreys, a feat not many politicians would relish!  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on September 30, 2016, 08:09:36 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37511861
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on September 30, 2016, 08:28:43 AM
Sorry - I have a lot to catch up.

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 21, 2016, 09:16:39 PM
Quote from: manoncharles on August 16, 2016, 01:04:52 AM
Quote from: Pedro on August 09, 2016, 11:37:25 PM
(I'm guessing no-one will ever see it so you can tell us it will be ;))
I hope you're wrong, hell. With science improving every freaking day, I hope someone will ever see 67-P after the Rosetta mission.
Oh, the comet will be visible every 6.5 years, but only from a great distance, with zero hope of being able to see the nucleus, let alone its surface. That'd take another space mission ...

Well that's what I mean ; I guess we'll improve again and again in terms of space travelling and that would mean someone will probably cross ways with the comet sometime. Whether it's for another mission to another place, or, why not, maybe one day we'll be able to get touristy and visit Rosetta and Philae's corpses  ::)

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on August 22, 2016, 06:54:46 PM
Quote from: RacingHippo on August 22, 2016, 01:24:58 PM
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned this little video launcing the new album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsW1SudRL4

It starts with some self-styled "Prof" gushing embarrasingly, so you'd best just skip to 0:27 when he finally shuts up :)

PS. I'm secretly very proud of our very own Media Tart.

You should have heard what I would have been willing to say if I'd been paid.

Besides, I was probably the least gushy of the lot: our astronauts are true pros at it  :P

Oh god, I love the French astronaut, he seems like he doesn't really have anything to say and especially not in English but he's fine and happy with it anyway haha.

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on September 29, 2016, 04:48:50 PM
OK, everyone: the day is almost upon us. Rosetta's last moments, descending to the surface of Comet 67P, will culminate in a controlled impact at roughly walking at 11:20 GMT / 12:20 BST / 13:20 CEST (current best estimate) tomorrow, Friday 30 September.

Hope you all follow along on www.esa.int. You'll probably be seeing quite a bit of my grinning fizzog in the media tomorrow as well, if you can bear it  :P

GOOD LUCK ! <3 *turns off the TV and all communication medium* (just kidding - the TV was never on :p)
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on September 30, 2016, 06:09:51 PM
& there he is 😀😀


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Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 03, 2016, 06:36:38 PM
I wish to register a complaint.
I've downloaded the Sky at Night special & no sign of Mr T Artist
Disgraceful ☹️️



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Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on October 03, 2016, 07:44:19 PM
Quote from: Mikey on October 03, 2016, 06:36:38 PM
I wish to register a complaint.
I've downloaded the Sky at Night special & no sign of Mr T Artist
Disgraceful ☹️️
Ahem - it's Professor T Artist you know...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on October 03, 2016, 10:49:10 PM
It's not as if he's got any other MTing to do anymore.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on October 03, 2016, 11:53:23 PM
I watched Death On A Comet (Discovery Science) earlier this evening, plenty of MT. Very enjoyable program too.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 05, 2016, 06:56:35 PM
Quote from: Mikey on October 03, 2016, 06:36:38 PM
I wish to register a complaint.
I've downloaded the Sky at Night special & no sign of Mr T Artist
Disgraceful ☹️️

Yes, that's an interesting one. I was filmed in an interview with Maggie A-P for their 2014 Philae landing doc, but ended up on the cutting room floor. I don't remember it that clearly, but did think at the time that some of the questions I was being asked were a bit odd, so perhaps the fit wasn't right.

And there are certain elements at the BBC that love Matt Taylor, the Rosetta Project Scientist, as he better fills their desire to expand demographically (working class background, tattoos, beard, etc.) than me. Don't get me wrong, Matt's great (I appointed him to the job, after all), but sometimes the BBC's approach to such things can be a bit heavy-handed (there's a lot more to this story, but I'm not going to write it here  ;) ).

So when it came to last week's programme, they went with the same faces for continuity. (FWIW, I didn't think the show was very good: too short and too much background information, not enough from landing day itself.)

But problem from my (invisible) perspective: I was doing plenty of stuff last week, including live BBC radio, TV, etc., and filming for the Discovery Channel doc (which I haven't seen yet, but know I'm in quite a lot of). Plus I have all the Mars stuff coming up linked to our landing event on 19 October.  For example, was filmed for Ron Howard's upcoming National Geographic hybrid fact-fiction series about Mars:

http://www.popsci.com/watch-trailer-for-ron-howards-mars (http://www.popsci.com/watch-trailer-for-ron-howards-mars)

Don't worry: you're not getting rid of me that easily  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 06, 2016, 11:53:09 AM
squee!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 14, 2016, 05:45:48 PM
Not really sure about about using the "Wake up Rosetta!" thread anymore ... she's asleep forever  :'(

But just to keep all of you space cadets up to speed, we're not resting on our laurels (or our comets) here at ESA: next week sees the arrival of our ExoMars 2016 spacecraft at the Red Planet.

On Sunday, the Schiaparelli lander will separate from the Trace Gas Orbiter, and then on Wednesday afternoon, the former will land on Mars while the latter will execute a big orbit insertion manoeuvre, ahead of starting its science.

Big media attention already guaranteed, so watch along with your favourite broadcasters, as well at www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int) and on FB Live.

Plus there's a fairly good chance of some Media Tartery from your Special Correspondent: you can't keep him down  :P ::)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 14, 2016, 06:39:53 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on October 14, 2016, 05:45:48 PM
Plus there's a fairly good chance of some Media Tartery from your Special Correspondent: you can't keep him down  :P ::)
Yay !!!  8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on October 14, 2016, 07:03:57 PM
Good luck! Hopefully all the calculations agree with reality on the day :)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on October 14, 2016, 09:24:13 PM
you can't do that! I'll be busy in Mickey Mouse Land. What time's this in Florida time?

PS just listened to Mr V doing his Rosetta stuff for the second time. Really enjoying it. It's a proper grower
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 15, 2016, 01:19:34 AM
Awesome, TA!  Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

Maybe we should start a new forum sub-section just for all the cool science that's happening!

;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 16, 2016, 11:40:12 AM
Quote from: owen on October 14, 2016, 09:24:13 PM
you can't do that! I'll be busy in Mickey Mouse Land. What time's this in Florida time?

PS just listened to Mr V doing his Rosetta stuff for the second time. Really enjoying it. It's a proper grower

Landing is around 14:59 UTC (signal arrives at Earth time), so I leave it as an exercise for the student to work out when that is in Florida. (Probably when you're standing in your first long line of the day).

(OK, I give in: Orlando is 4 hours behind UTC, so 14:59 UTC = 10:49 there. As I said, still stuck in the first queue of the day  8))
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on October 16, 2016, 07:23:43 PM
Well, it's on it's way... watched as the news of separation came in... much staring at screens and muttering... then smiles and applause.

Next stop Mars... hopefully in a controlled fashion :)

(Of course, the orbiter is really the main piece of science here... and it has the tricky job of getting into orbit, but there will have been a bunch of clever people and less clever if quite powerful computers to figure all that out).
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on October 20, 2016, 03:51:45 AM
Crossing fingers here, TA
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 20, 2016, 06:49:17 AM
MT live on Radio 5
Great interview with Nicky Campbell


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Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 21, 2016, 09:34:51 AM
Quote from: Mikey on October 20, 2016, 06:49:17 AM
MT live on Radio 5
Great interview with Nicky Campbell


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, Mikey: spoke to him again yesterday as well.

Most challenging interview out of many this week was late Thursday night. I'd cancelled my last one, scheduled for 22:45 local, as I was exhausted and needed to unwind.

So, had a nice big glass of red wine at ESOC, then retired to the hotel with the BBC crew for some more drinks. By 23:30, was a third of my way into a traditional "Touchdown Cocktail" (just don't ask the speed we touched down at), when the BBC producer's phone rang and she asked me whether I'd be willing to go on Newsnight. In 15 minutes. Live.

Gulp  :o

But you can't keep a good MT down, and so we rushed up to my bedroom (ooer, missus), set up Skype over their clever multi-4G box, and waited for Evan Davis. With a not entirely clear head, I thought "well, this could either go extremely well, or extremely badly."

Am still not 100% sure which it was in the end.

The things I do for science  ::)

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: JimD on October 21, 2016, 10:36:14 AM
QuoteAm still not 100% sure which it was in the end.

Having watched it I felt it was polite, authoritative, factual and illuminating and I personally could not sense that you may have "had a few" as you suggested.

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on October 21, 2016, 12:13:42 PM
A shame with Schiaparelli, but the TGO is in orbit, and I hope that somewhere in the masses of telemetry are answers, progress comes from failure after all, though you have to know why.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 21, 2016, 12:40:26 PM
Quote from: JimD on October 21, 2016, 10:36:14 AM
QuoteAm still not 100% sure which it was in the end.

Having watched it I felt it was polite, authoritative, factual and illuminating and I personally could not sense that you may have "had a few" as you suggested.

Thanks, Jim: appreciated. Only the glass of wine had had time to act, but that was on a pretty empty stomach, as I hadn't had time to eat anything all day either.

But as long as the mild befuddlement was only in my conscious mind, while the other part did its media duty, then it's all good  ???
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on October 21, 2016, 12:44:39 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on October 21, 2016, 12:13:42 PM
A shame with Schiaparelli, but the TGO is in orbit, and I hope that somewhere in the masses of telemetry are answers, progress comes from failure after all, though you have to know why.

Indeed, people are working through all the telemetry details in earnest, and we should have a pretty good idea about what worked (the heat shield and high-speed parachute, for sure, both tricky), and what probably didn't, e.g. why the thrusters shut down after just 3-4 seconds. We'll then run all the telemetry through a copy of the flight computer here on Earth and see how the systems responds to the particular set of inputs: might be a software error or an inconsistent hardware inputs.

We thrive on trying to do hard things here, and we all have to accept that sometimes things will go wrong. But as long as we take stock and learn, we're good.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on October 21, 2016, 06:21:36 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on October 21, 2016, 12:44:39 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on October 21, 2016, 12:13:42 PM
e.g. why the thrusters shut down after just 3-4 seconds.
If it should have run for 30 seconds then I'd be asking who lost the Zero in 30?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on October 21, 2016, 11:20:07 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on October 21, 2016, 12:44:39 PM
Quote from: Mordwin on October 21, 2016, 12:13:42 PM
A shame with Schiaparelli, but the TGO is in orbit, and I hope that somewhere in the masses of telemetry are answers, progress comes from failure after all, though you have to know why.

Indeed, people are working through all the telemetry details in earnest, and we should have a pretty good idea about what worked (the heat shield and high-speed parachute, for sure, both tricky), and what probably didn't, e.g. why the thrusters shut down after just 3-4 seconds. We'll then run all the telemetry through a copy of the flight computer here on Earth and see how the systems responds to the particular set of inputs: might be a software error or an inconsistent hardware inputs.

We thrive on trying to do hard things here, and we all have to accept that sometimes things will go wrong. But as long as we take stock and learn, we're good.

You guys rock.  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AM
So, fresh from my gig at the Prog Awards (cough), I'm now heading south for some live stage shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra this coming weekend, talking about Mars with Buzz Aldrin (as you do  ;)) and others.

If there are any Frost*ies in the area who're coming along, let me know (of course, Manon will be there  8)).

Then on to New Zealand for three days break, then Chile to travel to the observatories at Paranal and ALMA in the Atacama.

And if anyone in Sydney has a 56cm frame road bike (I'm 5'10"/178cm, 85kg) or a friend with one that they'd be willing to loan / rent to me on Saturday and Sunday, that'd be fantastic. All my gear (shoes, pedals, helmet, clothes, repair kit etc.) is packed, but I've discovered that the rentals in Sydney are booked out because of a big mass participation ride to Wollangong on Sunday  :-\

Help!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on November 01, 2016, 10:48:49 AM
Rock on, TA!!
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on November 01, 2016, 01:28:28 PM
You'll enjoy the Atacama TA.  My eldest daughter is just back from there and the photos look amazing.  8)
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 01, 2016, 07:42:31 PM
& I get to go to Guildford 😢😢😢


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Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: DueyC on November 01, 2016, 09:42:46 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AM
So, fresh from my gig at the Prog Awards (cough), I'm now heading south for some live stage shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra this coming weekend, talking about Mars with Buzz Aldrin (as you do  ;)) and others.


Just in time to miss Blunders with Steven Wilson. That was rather poor timing.  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on November 01, 2016, 10:32:41 PM
Buzz Aldrin. How cool is that?

Where's Rook these days?

Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on November 02, 2016, 05:26:04 PM
Quote from: Mikey on November 01, 2016, 07:42:31 PM
& I get to go to Guildford 😢😢😢


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But we are at Connaught service station 😀


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Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on December 12, 2016, 02:59:19 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AM
So, fresh from my gig at the Prog Awards (cough), I'm now heading south for some live stage shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra this coming weekend, talking about Mars with Buzz Aldrin (as you do  ;)) and others.

Ahhh you seemed super fresh indeed.

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AMIf there are any Frost*ies in the area who're coming along, let me know (of course, Manon will be there  8)).
Three years later... haha.. yaaaay, I was there, it was awesome, thank you :D

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AMI've discovered that the rentals in Sydney are booked out because of a big mass participation ride to Wollangong on Sunday  :-\

It's Wollongong! Come on, you don't even try (to be Australian). I'm glad you finally found a bike :)


Why is this topic still used? Is there a tiny chance Rosetta would sleep a hundred years and be woken up by some other satellite's true love kiss or something?
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 12, 2016, 08:59:25 AM
Quote from: manoncharles on December 12, 2016, 02:59:19 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AM
So, fresh from my gig at the Prog Awards (cough), I'm now heading south for some live stage shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra this coming weekend, talking about Mars with Buzz Aldrin (as you do  ;)) and others.

Ahhh you seemed super fresh indeed.

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AMIf there are any Frost*ies in the area who're coming along, let me know (of course, Manon will be there  8)).
Three years later... haha.. yaaaay, I was there, it was awesome, thank you :D

Quote from: Trapezium Artist on November 01, 2016, 07:45:28 AMI've discovered that the rentals in Sydney are booked out because of a big mass participation ride to Wollangong on Sunday  :-\

It's Wollongong! Come on, you don't even try (to be Australian). I'm glad you finally found a bike :)


Why is this topic still used? Is there a tiny chance Rosetta would sleep a hundred years and be woken up by some other satellite's true love kiss or something?

Wollangong, Wollongong, Smokeabong ... gimme a break  :P

Anyway, yes, everyone knows that Rosetta is going to be found in the deep future by aliens from Game of Thrones: don't you watch the movies?! The aim is to keep this thread alive until then: we predict roughly a million years from now, around the time Frost*4 comes out (sorry, ouch, don't hit me, Boss: it's a joke!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcYo-qQ5HbA
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on December 12, 2016, 12:38:18 PM
heh
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on December 12, 2016, 02:05:21 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on December 12, 2016, 08:59:25 AMAnyway, yes, everyone knows that Rosetta is going to be found in the deep future by aliens from Game of Thrones: don't you watch the movies?! The aim is to keep this thread alive until then: we predict roughly a million years from now, around the time Frost*4 comes out (sorry, ouch, don't hit me, Boss: it's a joke!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcYo-qQ5HbA

Oh yeah I agreee they look Games of Thrones-ish. But I've never watched that series.
And I hope you're wrong about next release date.
I got an e-mail today "New Frost release !" but it was just another band called Frost (Not Frost*) and Deezer got confused (because it doesn't understand " * ").
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on December 13, 2016, 06:39:43 PM
Quote from: manoncharles on December 12, 2016, 02:05:21 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on December 12, 2016, 08:59:25 AMAnyway, yes, everyone knows that Rosetta is going to be found in the deep future by aliens from Game of Thrones: don't you watch the movies?! The aim is to keep this thread alive until then: we predict roughly a million years from now, around the time Frost*4 comes out (sorry, ouch, don't hit me, Boss: it's a joke!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcYo-qQ5HbA

Oh yeah I agreee they look Games of Thrones-ish. But I've never watched that series.
And I hope you're wrong about next release date.
I got an e-mail today "New Frost release !" but it was just another band called Frost (Not Frost*) and Deezer got confused (because it doesn't understand " * ").

No, no, no. These are the characters from our Ambition sci-fi films, starring Aiden Gillen and Aisling Franciosi, both of whom have also starred in Game of Thrones.

Now don't tell me you haven't seen the Ambition films ...  :-\

Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on December 13, 2016, 07:20:11 PM
 ???
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: manoncharles on January 22, 2017, 03:37:35 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on December 13, 2016, 06:39:43 PM
Quote from: manoncharles on December 12, 2016, 02:05:21 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on December 12, 2016, 08:59:25 AMAnyway, yes, everyone knows that Rosetta is going to be found in the deep future by aliens from Game of Thrones: don't you watch the movies?! The aim is to keep this thread alive until then: we predict roughly a million years from now, around the time Frost*4 comes out (sorry, ouch, don't hit me, Boss: it's a joke!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcYo-qQ5HbA

Oh yeah I agreee they look Games of Thrones-ish. But I've never watched that series.
And I hope you're wrong about next release date.
I got an e-mail today "New Frost release !" but it was just another band called Frost (Not Frost*) and Deezer got confused (because it doesn't understand " * ").

No, no, no. These are the characters from our Ambition sci-fi films, starring Aiden Gillen and Aisling Franciosi, both of whom have also starred in Game of Thrones.

Now don't tell me you haven't seen the Ambition films ...  :-\

I have seen Ambition movies several times each. And I said those actors looked "Games of Thrones-ish" because I have actually never seen Games of Thrones (and I don't plan to, thank you very much) so I had no idea they were in it. (If I keep answering a month and a half late every time, we might actually be able to make this conversation last until the end of times (or Frost*4 or Rosetta's rediscovery)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on March 21, 2017, 04:25:33 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39340800
Wot? No TA / MT?  Slipping.  Must still be out celebrating his birthday...  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on March 22, 2017, 09:12:33 PM
Quote from: D S on March 21, 2017, 04:25:33 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39340800
Wot? No TA / MT?  Slipping.  Must still be out celebrating his birthday...  8)

Only fair that others get a shot occasionally ...  8)

No, seriously, these are science results from Rosetta and feature the scientists directly involved, as they should.

When you saw me involved, it was more for the big picture, hand-wavey stuff, which I apply to many other missions and circumstances as well  :P
Title: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mikey on March 22, 2017, 09:19:19 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on March 22, 2017, 09:12:33 PM
which I apply to many other missions and circumstances as well
& very well if I may say so


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on March 23, 2017, 12:16:47 PM
Quote from: Mikey on March 22, 2017, 09:19:19 PM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on March 22, 2017, 09:12:33 PM
which I apply to many other missions and circumstances as well
& very well if I may say so
You are most kind, sir.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 06, 2017, 07:54:07 AM
So there we were this morning, on holiday in Mallorca, sitting on the terrace having breakfast & listening to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on the iPad, when a familiar voice comes on, being interviewed by John Humphreys about a mission to Mercury. That TA gets everywhere!  8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on July 06, 2017, 10:03:25 AM
He's going to Mercury? Pack your shades, TA 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 06, 2017, 05:25:20 PM
Perhaps taking Closer To The Sun too literally...  ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 09, 2017, 01:26:34 PM
Ha – there is no escape  8)

Also did some bits for BBC 5live, BBC TV news, and ITN, as well as the Guardian and the Observer, so think yourself lucky you weren't in the UK for TA saturation coverage  :P

And then I went to the bluedot festival at Jodrell Bank to give a talk, which was made challenging by some band banging out some loud tunes about 150m away across the field, and the AV system collapsing at the start, leaving me having to ad lib for 20 minutes. Science comedy gold (I hope)  :o
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: johninblack on July 12, 2017, 01:03:57 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 09, 2017, 01:26:34 PM
leaving me having to ad lib for 20 minutes. Science comedy gold (I hope)  :o

Perhaps you should be the support act for Dingwalls, lol. You know how Jem likes his alternative style support acts.
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 12, 2017, 02:14:39 PM
Quote from: johninblack on July 12, 2017, 01:03:57 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 09, 2017, 01:26:34 PM
leaving me having to ad lib for 20 minutes. Science comedy gold (I hope)  :o

Perhaps you should be the support act for Dingwalls, lol. You know how Jem likes his alternative style support acts.

What a great idea!  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 12, 2017, 03:15:03 PM
Quote from: rogerg on July 12, 2017, 02:14:39 PM
Quote from: johninblack on July 12, 2017, 01:03:57 AM
Quote from: Trapezium Artist on July 09, 2017, 01:26:34 PM
leaving me having to ad lib for 20 minutes. Science comedy gold (I hope)  :o

Perhaps you should be the support act for Dingwalls, lol. You know how Jem likes his alternative style support acts.

What a great idea!  ;D

Weirdly enough, I was thinking about this this morning, me giving a whizz-bang sciencey talk as a support act to a band. I wasn't thinking about Frost*, but another musical friend of mine, but hey, if the boss is up for it ...  8)

My talks are full of cool pictures, videos, music, daft jokes, and more, as well as space and science, and do seem to go down a treat (just gave one this lunchtime to a whole bunch of teachers), so I'm ready if the world is  :P

(I've also done big live shows with Buzz Aldrin: that's got to help, right?)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on July 12, 2017, 04:22:58 PM
How good are you with hecklers? Just asking, not saying anything
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 12, 2017, 05:27:59 PM
Quote from: owen on July 12, 2017, 04:22:58 PM
How good are you with hecklers? Just asking, not saying anything

F* off!  :P
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on July 12, 2017, 07:21:22 PM
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 13, 2017, 03:38:14 AM
heh
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: D S on July 20, 2018, 01:06:41 PM
I see the ESA is looking for names for their Mars rover.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44889596
As SpacyMcSpaceface probably isn't going to get far, how about Frosty?!  ;D ;)
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: rogerg on July 20, 2018, 01:40:29 PM
Quote from: D S on July 20, 2018, 01:06:41 PM
As SpacyMcSpaceface probably isn't going to get far, how about Frosty?!  ;D ;)

Rawk!!  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 20, 2018, 03:50:13 PM
Quote from: rogerg on July 20, 2018, 01:40:29 PM
Quote from: D S on July 20, 2018, 01:06:41 PM
As SpacyMcSpaceface probably isn't going to get far, how about Frosty?!  ;D ;)

Rawk!!  ;D

I think you lot definitely need to put in a team entry  ;D
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Mordwin on July 20, 2018, 07:39:33 PM
Calling it after our favourite drummer is probably not a great idea :D

And whilst not exactly Frost*, it will be a Lonely Robot...
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: owen on July 21, 2018, 07:47:34 AM
Looks remarkably like Wall-E
Title: Re: Wake up Rosetta!
Post by: Trapezium Artist on July 29, 2018, 10:25:59 AM
Quote from: owen on July 21, 2018, 07:47:34 AM
Looks remarkably like Wall-E

Convergent evolution at its finest.