Lowburn's recent activity

  3. Comment on NASA prepares for historic asteroid sample delivery on Sept. 24, 2023 in ~space

    Lowburn
    (edited )
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    NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made a successful TAG (Touch-And-Go) on asteroid Bennu on October 20, 2020 and collected pristine samples from the asteroid's surface. This alone was a incredible...

    NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made a successful TAG (Touch-And-Go) on asteroid Bennu on October 20, 2020 and collected pristine samples from the asteroid's surface. This alone was a incredible scientific achievement. You may have seen the montage of images during the successful decent and touch. Of the estimated 1 million asteroids in the solar system, only 8 were identified as potential targets. Bennu was selected because of its "sandy" surface texture and relatively high Earth impact probability (no worries about the latter as NASA's DART mission demonstrated).

    Now that sample container is set to return to Earth on 9/24/23. Why is this sample so important and of great scientific interest? Asteroids are remnants of the formation of our solar system some 4.5 billion years ago and have remained unchanged since then. Studying the surface material will provide scientists valuable clues of the early makeup of what eventually became the 8 planets we see today. Further, the sample may contain the molecular precursors to the origin of life and the Earth’s oceans.

    Much like the samples returned from the Moon during the Apollo missions, only 25% of Bennu's sample will be analyzed by current scientists. The rest will be stored for future scientists to examine with technologies not yet invented to answer questions not yet thought of.

    -LB

    6 votes

  5. Comment on Introductions | June 2023, part 2 in ~talk

    Lowburn
    Link Parent
    Thanks! More than happy to start contributing to that tag.

    Thanks! More than happy to start contributing to that tag.

    9 votes

  6. Comment on Introductions | June 2023, part 2 in ~talk

    Lowburn
    (edited )
    Link
    Hi all, Another reddit refugee checking in. 12 years for me. I'm one of the senior mods on r/nasa and my sole reddit usage will now be contained to that sub since efficient mobile browsing is...

    Hi all,
    Another reddit refugee checking in. 12 years for me. I'm one of the senior mods on r/nasa and my sole reddit usage will now be contained to that sub since efficient mobile browsing is going away in a couple weeks.

    I've spent a few days mostly lurking here and really enjoy the atmosphere. Seems perfectly balanced between information and quality discourse. Perfect for a nerd like myself. My first AOL screen name was created in 1996. Proud to be on this site in 2023.

    Professionally- I work for the US national space agency more commonly known by a four letter acronym. First IT and now comms.

    Married and a father.

    In my free time I like to peer into the cosmos, play indoor soccer, practice photography, and a bit of gaming on the PC/Switch.

    Looking forward to forthcoming alpha of Three Cheers for Tildes by @talklittle. For anyone that hasn't used RiF... rest assured you're in for a treat.

    Thanks for having me!

    40 votes

  7. Comment on Windows 11's latest endearing mess contains rigorously enforced Britishisms in ~tech

    Lowburn
    (edited )
    Link
    Win 11 Clippy has also said: Open command prompt with lifted privileges. Lost a file? Check the Rubbish Bin Allow the browser to store biscuits?

    Win 11 Clippy has also said:

    • Open command prompt with lifted privileges.

    • Lost a file? Check the Rubbish Bin

    • Allow the browser to store biscuits?

    15 votes

  8. Comment on I need casual, easy going games to help me relax. So, Tildes, what you got? in ~games

    Lowburn
    Link
    I highly recommend ABZÛ. It's incredibly relaxing and also has a seriously minimal learning curve.

    I highly recommend ABZÛ. It's incredibly relaxing and also has a seriously minimal learning curve.

    3 votes