I guess part of me would expect some huge crater...like the sort you see in, well, a science fiction movie. I mean, it's not like Hollywood would exaggerate things to make them more spectacular, right? Then again, the impact was "only" 300kph, and while the blurb says the parachute didn't open, they have to mean the main chute, or one of many, as I'd expect something that was crashing from beyond the magnetosphere would have a bit more momentum than that, right? Anyhow...I guess I'm sometimes a little sad that reality doesn't mesh with what I "know" about space thanks to Star Trek/Star Wars/Battlestar Galactaca/Dr. Who/etc.
I should know better, as I know better than most how freaking hard dirt is. I've certainly swung a mattock at full strength only to have it bounce off particularly frozen or clayey soil or a rock with totally uninjured soil laughing at my efforts. When I put things into that perspective the face that this object burrowed so deep suddenly becomes impressive again.
Still...I want more.
I was discussing with my father the other week just how disappointing it would be if we made contact, developed interstellar travel and discover...Vulcans. Boooooring. Us? With pointy ears? I mean yeah, it's cool we'd have discovered more life and there would be so much to learn, do, etc....but I think deep down I'd be a little disappointed. Of all the possible combinations there could be it turns out there's a single blueprint for life? Yawn. (well, of course it would be cool to know that, but again, I'd imagine a slight letdown too). Where are the tentacled monsters? Where are the lizard people? Where's Admiral Ackbar? I guess when it comes right down to it...I want Star Wars, and not Star Trek when/if we make it to deep space.
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