Editing 1402: Harpoons
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | 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 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 first peak | + | 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 Harpoon brand of Jamaican rum made it aboard. |
− | The | + | The caption implies that the spacecraft is sentient and believes that its mission is to kill the comet. This is likely a parody of the novel ''Moby Dick'', in which Captain Ahab hunts a sperm whale named Moby Dick using traditional harpoons out of vengeance for the whale's biting off his leg. |
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==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}} | ||
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