Editing Talk:2262: Parker Solar Probe

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I thought "down" meant towards the center of the Earth. Apparently I was wrong. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.148|162.158.214.148]] 23:17, 31 January 2020 (UTC)
:Our usual understanding of "down" means "towards the center of the Earth", here Randall is using it as "towards the center of the Sun". If you think about it, down means "towards the pull of gravity", Randall is just changed the gravity source he's referencing. :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

I think the reference frame used here is a reference to "the enemy's gate is down" from ''Ender's Game'', which is a book that the comic references often. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.238|172.69.69.238]] 23:57, 31 January 2020 (UTC)
:No, see my above comment. :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)
::Considering Sagittarius A* is not in picture, I think we can't rule out Ender's Game completely. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:07, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
::This is common in space travel. When entering a new system, down is towards the main star.[[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 04:53, 4 February 2020 (UTC)

To be fair,  Ender's Game only applies in a zero-G environment.  signed, Mr. Buzzkill.  [[User:Cellocgw|Cellocgw]] ([[User talk:Cellocgw|talk]]) 14:48, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

Cueball and Megan standing on Earth remind me of the illustrations from {{w|The Little Prince}}. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 00:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

Whether or not the use is 'official', I can't help feeling that describing it as a "robotic" probe gives a different impression to some other term such as "(semi-?)autonomous". At the moment it makes me think of VINCENT from {{w|The Black Hole}} (*surely it can't be too long before the Disney trend to re-release "Live Action" remakes of its old features starts to include this, ''The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes'', ''Blackbeard's Ghost'' and ''Herbie Goes Bananas'' - jus' sayin' in passin'...) or Huey/Louie/Dewey from {{w|Silent Running|The Valley Forge}}. But I must check to see how much actuator use it has, other than for once-only 'deployment' like unfolding of solar panels/shielding. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.241|162.158.154.241]] 16:44, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

The orbit GIF moves a little too quickly to see clearly (and might not be fully accurate), but there seem to be some close calls between PSP and Venus, and PSP and Mercury. [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 00:24, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
:That is correct and intentional. The probe is using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_assist Gravity Assists] to slow down. As a result, the close flyby with Mercury and Venus are all essential parts of going to the Sun. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.148|172.68.141.148]] 01:39, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
::Note the resolution of the picture: what looks as close calls is not THAT close. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:07, 2 February 2020 (UTC)

Who put an extra explanation? We don't need two of the same thing. Could we get that copy cleared, except for the table chart? That can go with the first one.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.226|108.162.241.226]] 14:32, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Randall was doubly sloppy on the title text. It should be 9-10 ''radii'' form the ''center'', not 9-10 ''diameters'' from the ''surface''. Clarified this in both explanations on this page, I agree that someone should delete one of them.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.98|108.162.229.98]] 12:50, 5 February 2020 (UTC)