Wonderful journey

Mars landing

A man-made machine landed on the planet Mars safely this week, after a 711 million kilometre journey from Earth. Pictures it has taken have already been seen on the internet, and the robotic space traveller is already digging into the red planet to test for the possibility of past or future life there.

What a wonderful journey this has been.

I can accept there has been plenty of time for a steady progression of skills to allow NASA to make the rocket systems, and the "mechanics" of interplanetary journeys (relatively) reliable, but it's the mathematics of the trip that excites me . . . all those millions of kilometres on a roundabout course and landing "just where X marked the spot!"

The pity is that so many will be so little impressed with this latest demonstration of Man's vision and determination. These days, the value of science is increasingly under-rated (here in Australia at least)and that's a shame.

As for me - I just hope I'll still be around when they land a man (or woman) on Mars and I'll be able to cheer again for people "using the brains they was borned with!"

And also: Please note that Australia's Tidbidbilla telescope people were, as usual, a vital part of this last great expedition.