Happy New year everybody! After some deep thought and soul-searching and everything that goes on during this time of year, I'm back in good spirits, at least for today.
Navel Gazing
Mars Rover Opportunity is looking at spacecraft debris of its own making.
"We have circled around to a secondary debris site we are calling the 'flank piece'", noted Christine Szalai, JPL's leader of the heat shield observations team. "These are some pieces that broke off of the main heat shield after impact," she told SPACE.com.
Szalai said that a set of "interesting targets" have been identified - targets to home in on with the rover's Microscopic Imager for carrying out fracture cross-section looks this weekend.
"This data will hopefully tell us the char depth through the thickness of the thermal protection system material. After we are done with this investigation, we are going to continue the spiral to survey the main heat shield and come in close to obtain more imaging data," Szalai explained.
It's probably useful data, but it does seem like a bit of NASA navel-gazing to me. Of course, the Rovers are now long into overtime, so if it works, they may as well do something with it.
The Eagle-beaked One Has Landed (In The Bronx)
After a very long toussle, the Yankees have finally landed their man in Randy Johnson.
New York and Arizona finalized paperwork Friday for the Johnson trade and plan to submit it Monday to commissioner Bud Selig for approval. The Yankees are sending the Diamondbacks pitcher Javier Vazquez, prospects Brad Halsey and Dioner Navarro and $9 million. As part of the deal, they want a 72-hour window to discuss a contract extension for Johnson, a 41-year-old left-hander who has won five CyYoung Awards.
Is it worth sending Javy, Brad, Dionar and 9 million buckeroos for a 41 year-old demon left-hander who can hurl with the flying tigers? - That's the 205 million dollar question.
One side of me says, "If you're George Steinbrenner and you want the best/Arguably Greatest EVER Lefthander to front your rotation, anything is worth it." Another side of me says, "Javy, Brad and Dionar were plenty good for the money. Why add 9 million just to have a 41 year-old super-pitcher?" Well, at least they didn't have to give up Eric Duncan, and I can't tell you how much of a relief that is for a lot of Yankee watchers.
- Ar Neuro
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