Editing 1438: Houston
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | This comic presents a joke: a [[Cueball]] is at Mission Control, but is failing to help a spacecraft, and is, in fact, being rather unhelpful and completely ignoring them. This is contrary to how one would expect mission control to behave in the event of an explosion. | |
− | + | Alternatively, this could be some type of commentary: | |
− | + | *Outsourcing of call centers reducing quality. | |
− | + | *Call centers ignoring critical calls. | |
+ | *Tech savvy people mocking those with limited technological comprehension. | ||
+ | *NASA's quality issues in recent decades, potently due to funding cuts and direction shift. | ||
+ | *Someone named 'Houston' at a call center picking the phone up. | ||
− | + | On {{w|Apollo 13}}'s way to the Moon, during a routine stirring of one of the oxygen tanks, an explosion occurred that damaged the craft. Frantic efforts, by the {{w|Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center|mission control}} center located in Houston, resulted in the safe return of all astronauts. | |
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+ | A similar situation is depicted in this strip including the design of the spacecraft, the nature of the problem, and the famous misquote "Houston, we have a problem". The modern type of monitor ({{w|Liquid-crystal display|flat panel LCD}}) in front of which Cueball sits suggests that the author is describing a more modern scenario. This time there is much less help from mission control. Upon receiving the message from the spacecraft, [[Cueball]] seems fairly indifferent. Instead of attempting to resolve the issue, he mocks the crew for not knowing how to stir and hangs up. | ||
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+ | In the title text Cueball continues his belligerence by blowing off the crew in favor of a call from his mother. | ||
=== Apollo 13 === | === Apollo 13 === | ||
− | NASA mission {{w|Apollo 13}} was intended to be the third manned landing on the moon. Immediately following the explosion, astronaut Jack Swigert calmly | + | NASA mission {{w|Apollo 13}} was intended to be the third manned landing on the moon. Immediately following the explosion, astronaut Jack Swigert calmly reported — and shortly later repeated by James A. Lovell — to mission control: "Houston, we've had a problem" — a notable understatement which was famously misquoted in the {{w|Apollo 13 (film)|1995 film adaptation of the mission}} as "Houston, we have a problem". |
Mission control worked diligently and tirelessly to solve numerous problems such as: | Mission control worked diligently and tirelessly to solve numerous problems such as: | ||
* If and how to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory. | * If and how to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory. | ||
− | * How to have the astronauts | + | * How to have the astronauts [https://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/jerry.html jerry-rig] CO<sub>2</sub> removal equipment intended for the command module to work with the lunar module (to which the astronauts had evacuated) using the equipment on board. |
* How to power the equipment back up within strict limitations. | * How to power the equipment back up within strict limitations. | ||
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:[We see a close-up of Cueball.] | :[We see a close-up of Cueball.] | ||
− | :Orbiter transmission: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O₂ tank and it | + | :Orbiter transmission: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O₂ tank and it exploded! |
:Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring. | :Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring. | ||