Editing 1402: Harpoons
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Needs more work, especially the top section, too much speculation in the explanation which should belong in the comment section}} | |
− | + | Continuing a recurring theme (as seen in comics [[111]] and [[231]]), two unrelated but interesting objects have been juxtaposed graphically with humorous results. In this case, it's the fact that old-timey, man-made {{w|harpoon}}s (a cool word) have been placed among the equipment for a space flight (a cool concept). According to Randall, this has happened twice. | |
− | The latter peak on this graph refers to the {{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}} unmanned spacecraft. As part of its mission, it | + | The latter peak on this graph refers to the {{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}} unmanned spacecraft. As part of its mission, it's carrying a lander (called {{w|Philae (spacecraft)|Philae}}), which has two tethers to anchor itself to the comet {{w|67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko}}. Rosetta was launched in March 2004 (as shown in the graph) and is scheduled to encounter the comet in August 2014, making this a timely comic. |
− | The title text compares the Philae lander's method of deploying its tethers to | + | The first peak is probably a joke. Officially, {{w|Apollo 12}} carried neither harpoons nor rum. However, as a former NASA contractor, Randall may know more about space shenanigans than the general public, and may be implying (perhaps jokingly) that a bottle of the [http://www.harpoon-rum.eu/1.html Harpoon] brand of {{w|Rum#Regional variations|Jamaican rum}} made it aboard in a "[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoodleIncident noodle incident]". |
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+ | The title text compares the Philae lander's method of deploying its tethers to whaling, in which sailors would throw harpoons at a whale with the intent of killing the whale. It was important to throw hard so the harpoon would stick in the whale so it could not get away and would tow the whaling boat until it got tired and could be killed. Thus the title text implies that the spacecraft is sentient and needs a motivation to fire the harpoons hard enough to stay anchored to the comet; to this end it has been programmed to believe that its mission is to kill the comet. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:'''Number of harpoons in space''' | :'''Number of harpoons in space''' | ||
:by year | :by year | ||
− | :[A chart with a red graph is drawn below | + | :[A chart with a red graph is drawn below] |
− | :[The y-axis | + | :[The y-axis] |
:0 1 2 3 | :0 1 2 3 | ||
− | :[The x-axis | + | :[The x-axis] |
:1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 | :1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 | ||
− | :[The graph is at zero until a sharp peak to 1 in 1970. The peak is labeled | + | :[The graph is at zero until a sharp peak to 1 in 1970. The peak is labeled] |
:Apollo 12 rum incident | :Apollo 12 rum incident | ||
− | :[The graph then stays at 0 until 2004. Then it rises to 2 and stays there until today, continuing as a dotted line after 2014. The rise is labeled | + | :[The graph then stays at 0 until 2004. Then it rises to 2 and stays there until today, continuing as a dotted line after 2014. The rise is labeled] |
:Rosetta comet mission launched carrying lander with harpoon tethers | :Rosetta comet mission launched carrying lander with harpoon tethers | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Charts]] | |
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[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
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