Space Shuttle

[iwire]

All this Star Wars talk reminds me of a funny Conan O'Brien segment. :grin:

I will be happy to provide the link to anyone that asks me for it via PM. All you Star Wars fans should see it. :grin:




(The video is PG, the site hosting it is R, that is why I will not post the link)

 

[480sparky]

That's the worst case of gingivitis I've ever seen... Or is it leprosy?

"How do you get funding for something like this?"
"You don't actually think they spend $20,000.00 on a hammer, $30,000.00 on a toilet seat do you?"

Independence Day.

Next. :smile:

 

[zog]

But that is not quite it. Han used the speed of the Millennium Falcon to skirt the edge of a cluster of black holes and shorten the distance of the Kessel run. This proved he had a ship fast enough escape back out of the gravitational pull at the edge of the black hole. This dangerous route allowed him to reduce the distance to less than 12 parsecs.

parsec = 1 pc = 3.0856775854x10^16 m = (6.48/Pi) x10^5 AU = 2.062648x10^5 AU = 3.261633 Ly

It is derived from the English acronym parallax second and is the distance from which one AU would subtend an angle of 1 second of arc (1/3600 of a degree).

1 AU (or UA) = 1.49597870x10^11 m and is approximately the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun.

Bravo! Great answer to one of the most misunderstood quotes in the stars wars saga.

Since we have drifted way off topic, I can ask now, anyone see the Star Wars exhibit at the Science mesuem of Minnesota yet? I think it was at the Smithsonean last summer and will be in Australia next year. I just purchased advance tickets and am going in 2 weeks. I hear it is amazing.

 

[480sparky]

But that is not quite it. Han used the speed of the Millennium Falcon to skirt the edge of a cluster of black holes and shorten the distance of the Kessel run. This proved he had a ship fast enough escape back out of the gravitational pull at the edge of the black hole. This dangerous route allowed him to reduce the distance to less than 12 parsecs.

parsec = 1 pc = 3.0856775854x10^16 m = (6.48/Pi) x10^5 AU = 2.062648x10^5 AU = 3.261633 Ly

It is derived from the English acronym parallax second and is the distance from which one AU would subtend an angle of 1 second of arc (1/3600 of a degree).

1 AU (or UA) = 1.49597870x10^11 m and is approximately the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun.

I understand what a parsec is. But how do you traverse a specific distance and then measure it with another measurement of length? His comment in the movie makes a parsec into a length of time.

Suppose he said "I ran the Indy 500 in 750 kilometers."? Would that make sense to you?

 

[frizbeedog]

I understand what a parsec is.

Parsec

I'm glad you do.

I'm still back in the cantina on Tatooine. My ship don't go that fast. :grin:

 

[frizbeedog]

Bravo! Great answer to one of the most misunderstood quotes in the stars wars saga.

The Kessel Run

 

[M. D.]

as far as parsec goes this guy can't possibly be wrong

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-parsec.htm

 

[zog]

as far as parsec goes this guy can't possibly be wrong

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-parsec.htm

My head hurts after reading that.

 

[tonyou812]

Wow, I bet the Columbia could do the Kessel run in less than 11 parsecs.

But can it make it through the Moultara nebula without any problems?

 

[C3PO]

Bravo! Great answer to one of the most misunderstood quotes in the stars wars saga.

Since we have drifted way off topic, I can ask now, anyone see the Star Wars exhibit at the Science mesuem of Minnesota yet? I think it was at the Smithsonean last summer and will be in Australia next year. I just purchased advance tickets and am going in 2 weeks. I hear it is amazing.

Are you talking about the "Where science meets imagination" exhibit?
I want to go, but Minnestoa is a long drive from Tennessee.

 

[360Youth]

I know we all tend to ignore space travel now, but you can watch and listen to the shuttle coming in here http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

I have it on and as they tell you the shuttle is coming in at 21 times the speed of sound I can not help but be impressed with the whole process.

Without a doubt one of my fondest life experiences was driving with friends while in college to Canaveral to watch a 5 am shuttle launch.

 

[Rampage_Rick]

I'm not sure if some of the members here are too old to watch Robot Chicken, but they do some great Star Wars parodies (with George Lucas' blessing to boot)

Warning-Language: Favorite quote: "You got an ATM on that torso light-bright?!"


PM Rick for the link, Bob

 

[mivey]

I understand what a parsec is.

I know you know what a parsec is, I just thought it was interesting info, even if a little nerdy.

But how do you traverse a specific distance and then measure it with another measurement of length?

Route #1: Go to town using the 18 mile ATV route around the perimeter of the lake.

Route #2: You can cut the distance to 16 miles by taking a fast ATV and skimming the open water between the numerous sand bars and islands that litter the lake and its inlets. This is a pretty common route for many adventurers who like the hot-rod ATVs. {Boastfully}"I take the 16 mile route". Many have tried to shorten this route by crossing some larger open areas but have lost their ATVs in the deep water. Some claim to be able to cut the distance to 15 miles with some of their suped up ATVs.

The Han Solo Route: Han has an engine and drive train designed by a little know wiz kid named Anakin and claims he has the power and speed needed to make the run to town in under 12 miles.

His comment in the movie makes a parsec into a length of time.

I have seen a couple of other scenarios:
1) Han was trying to fast-talk Obi-Wan and was just throwing out stuff that might sound good to any common potential client.

2) Lucas liked the sound of the word and just used it without really knowing what it meant.

3) Parsec could mean anything in another galaxy.

4) It is a complete lie. That means {gasp} Wookies don't exist either and it was all just a movie.

Suppose he said "I ran the Indy 500 in 750 kilometers."? Would that make sense to you?

If he had a stealth vehicle that can cut across the infield without being seen and still get the win...maybe.

 

[zog]

Are you talking about the "Where science meets imagination" exhibit?
I want to go, but Minnestoa is a long drive from Tennessee.

Thats the one, it is longer from NC but I am going. Then again I have family there so i would be going anyways.

 

[C3PO]

Thats the one, it is longer from NC but I am going. Then again I have family there so i would be going anyways.

I was going to go when it was in Boston, but I couldn't ever get freed up.
Let me know how it is.

 

[480sparky]

I have seen a couple of other scenarios:
1) Han was trying to fast-talk Obi-Wan and was just throwing out stuff that might sound good to any common potential client.

That would be my second choice. But why use a word that doesn't make sense to the audience? Granted, most don't know what a parsec is, but some would. Why not make up a word? They make stuff up all the time in movies. "...the Kessel Run in 12 dramlins!" would have made far more sense.

2) Lucas liked the sound of the word and just used it without really knowing what it meant.

This is my first choice. Problem is Hollywood doesn't do their homework sometimes and things like this 'slip' by. Like ground crews in Apollo 13 using their slide rules to add. Or Kevin's mother in Home Alone, leaving Paris on a non-stop flight in an L1011 and arriving in NY in a 747.

3) Parsec could mean anything in another galaxy.

Strange how we understand their language so well, though. Sounds a lot like Americanized English. And oddly enough, they even look human!

4) It is a complete lie. That means {gasp} Wookies don't exist either and it was all just a movie.

I realize it's just a story, but when you're spending millions of bucks to tell that story, maybe they could find it in the budget the money to hire someone to avoid this type of 'error'.

 

[mivey]

Why not make up a word? They make stuff up all the time in movies. "...the Kessel Run in 12 dramlins!" would have made far more sense.

That certainly would have been more creative

This is my first choice. Problem is Hollywood doesn't do their homework sometimes and things like this 'slip' by. Like ground crews in Apollo 13 using their slide rules to add. Or Kevin's mother in Home Alone, leaving Paris on a non-stop flight in an L1011 and arriving in NY in a 747.

I actually think this was the real reason for the use of parsecs and the rest of the stuff was just an attempt to explain away the mistake. Had you originally gone with the black hole theory, I would have picked either the mistake or idiot Han angle.

I realize it's just a story, but when you're spending millions of bucks to tell that story, maybe they could find it in the budget the money to hire someone to avoid this type of 'error'.

You would think.

 

[zog]

I realize it's just a story, but when you're spending millions of bucks to tell that story, maybe they could find it in the budget the money to hire someone to avoid this type of 'error'.

Star Wars (A new hope) was shot on a very low budget, around $10M or so.

 

[frizbeedog]

Here's another non electrical related thread that needs closing!


Let's do some house cleaning.

Good luck Pierre. :smile:

 

[iwire]

Here's another non electrical related thread that needs closing!


Let's do some house cleaning.

Good luck Pierre. :smile:

Not a problem, I will close it.

I will also remove every reference to your dog, that shows up in oh so many threads.