A European Spacecraft Is About to Fly Past Venus

(forbes.com)

74 points | by squibbles 1286 days ago

4 comments

  • valuearb 1285 days ago
    Unlikely to provide a strong confirmation or repudiation of the current data because it’s instruments are not designed for it.

    What’s more interesting is RocketLabs planned probe, which would actually enter the atmosphere. I’m amazed they can get even a small probe to Venus with their booster. If they do that will be very impressive.

    • messe 1285 days ago
      > Unlikely to provide a strong confirmation or repudiation of the current data because it’s instruments are not designed for it.

      Next year's fly-by has a better chance of confirming it as it will be much closer (although it will still be barely within the abilities of the instruments).

  • mensetmanusman 1286 days ago
    Hopefully they find life.
    • fsiefken 1285 days ago
      the adjustment of these fly-bys are about independently confirming the phosphine presence, which might or might not indicate life (through unknown physical processes)
    • em3rgent0rdr 1285 days ago
      The original nature article says unknown geological forces or chemistry was a possible explanation too...which seems more likely. Unfortunately popular science articles are more likely to write headlines as "Aliens!" than admit ignorance of geology or chemistry.
    • iso947 1285 days ago
      So remember when you're feeling very small and insecure How amazingly unlikely is your birth And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space Cause there's bugger-all down here on Earth
      • codezero 1285 days ago
        And we’ve got this far! Imagine how far space idiots have gotten! :)
  • toyg 1285 days ago
    Why would it be "a complete fluke"? I mean, it is lucky that we get a Venus flyby so close to the announcement about phosphine, but it's not like the capsule was on that way by mistake or had no other purpose...