Could Windbots be the answer? ( NASA Looking into New Concept of Space and Planetary Exploration)

NASA is experimenting with a notion for robotic gliding devices that could cruise in the atmospheres of other planets, including gas giants like Jupiter. These robotic devices will not have wings nor hot-air balloons to stay aloft. NASA are flirting with the idea of using air turbulence to produce influence to make the floating robots stay airborne. The airborne devices are to be called Windbots.

These new type of robotic probes might be something like space travelling Cubsats, but these particular Windbots will be designed to remain within the fringes of a planet’s stratosphere. This will enable all sorts of exploration and monitoring of planetary gases, gravity and so many other things.

Plants that Gas giants lie Jupiter and Saturn have no solid floor upon which to land and sometimes the gravity getting closer to the core would be enormous. This would crush most types of probe that descend too close to the inner regions of such planets.

NASA’s scientists are looking at things like certain plant seeds that start to rotate when they fall, thus creating lift and allowing the seed to stay airborne for long periods at a time. Such natural designs could be used on windbots. Finding a consistent and light source of energy seems paramount. For this; planetary winds, temperature change and planetary magnetic pull could be used. Maybe small copters with rudders or something akin to a fly.

Even planets like Venus might benefit from Windbots because the surface is too hot and trapped under cloud cover. One might imagine small windbots or even larger manned ones too. Perhaps windbot fleets on some planets with stations high in the sky.

Margaret Thatcher's political end (Poll Tax Riots London 1990)

She was one of the best though she was a person with many faults. I think Maggie deserves recognition because she was a true patriot and many did admire her greatly.

Well, I would not mind betting that there are a lot of people shouting "No Way" But then there will be as many applauding. When I was 18 years of age, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of United Kingdom and she gave the country a blooming big kick up the arse. The trouble was, I don't think she always knew when to stop kicking and many of us imagined we had bottoms that were constantly smarting. The reason I have picked Margaret Thatcher for praise is because I am  now 53 and I own my house because of her. I did not appreciate it at the time. I thought she was as hard as nails, which she was.

I worked in the Royal Mail (Post Office) throughout the 1980s decade and it seemed to be a rather turbulent time. I remember the unemployment and the clashes with the unions, most notably the miners strike. Everyone that confronted her was swept aside and I was one of the young who thought she was too harsh.

As much as it pains me to say this, I believe she got more right then she got wrong. I can visualise myself as a young man in his twenties - full of high ideas and morals - being disgusted with this older me, who is writing this. But if I could, I would like to reach down that time corridor and grab myself by the collar. I'd spit. "You are so full of Bull - you know nothing and she will do you right in years to come." She did, and to be fair on Maggie, she is one I did not appreciate at the time. I think a lot of us secretly miss her. Sometimes undesirable elements took the country on and I could not have wished such enemies upon a more formidable opponent. (I almost felt sorry for them)

If I could make one complaint to Margaret Thatcher it would be:

Why did you steam roller through the Pole Tax without properly reviewing such things. It could have been a good idea if you had taken the many variables of income into the equation. You really did drop the ball on that one and then it was the old; "And you to Brutus" from most of your ministers. It all stemmed from the Pole tax - I'm certain it did. You could have had a few more years, but for that.

No doubt, Mrs Thatcher would still hear none of this.

It is believed that the Poll tax signified the beginning of the end for Margaret Thatcher. She had stood her ground on many issues over 11 years and won. This, the hated Poll tax, was one she would loose, but only after her ministers manoeuvred her into quitting a short time later on other issues. However, the Poll tax was the original cause that began to really spiral out of control for her.

It is thought that the riot in central London, with the countrywide opposition to the Community Charge (especially vehement in the North of England and Scotland) contributed to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, who resigned as Prime Minister in November the same year, defending the tax when opinion polls were showing 2% support for it. The next Prime Minister, John Major, announced it would be abolished.

Giving You Titanic - How the Sleeping Colossal Edifice Became so Beautifully sad in Flawed Gods' Memories.

How the Colossal Edifice Became so Beautifully Sad in the Memories of Flawed Gods.

Cruel Time, soothing time, patient time and the sadness of time. What a wonderful, wretched, yet compelling picture of a colossal sad edifice – dead and so wretched – years after such terrible demise. To think this huge, aptly named, titanic construction of mighty steel, rivets and sturdy bulwarks sailed out from a harbour into the beautiful, yet cruel sea. Aboard were vast numbers of passengers like little ants walking down companionways and dinning in exotic restaurants. They would be care free and happy to be upon a journey to the USA. Perhaps indulging themselves in thoughts of future undertaking in a grand country while aboard a grand and imagined, tame personified structure that was completely under their control. What could go wrong? Nothing is the answer - so why bother dwelling on such things?

In this wonderfully clear image of the Titanic – dead and sterile upon the engulfing – all-consuming sea bed; we can see a small miniature sub shinning a spotlight upon the broken far side of the wreck. Little ants observing what became of the unsinkable, proud conception, made by flawed Gods – poor arrogant gods – sad well-meaning and yet, conceited gods.

The huge iron animal split into two parts and we can only see the decaying bow laying like a long dead monster. A docile being that served little ant-gods who walked within the iron beast, unafraid of the titan because it was built to serve them. Not knowing that there were far greater elements of the planet that the titan had no chance against. The sea.

The temperate sea that is heartless and old, frozen and cold. All consuming and engulfing – oblivious to all including the mighty Titanic and her minion Gods – the little chunks of walking apathy that would face the horrendous collective of watery indolence.

What a chilling beauty as she lays there upon the ocean sands – consumed and slowly digesting within the planets huge watery belly.

What wonderful little chunks of apathy we are to marvel at the results and doggedly try to learn from such catastrophes. We wonder and stand in awe of the failure and drink in the demise, knowing that such mistakes will happen again, but we push on never the less. It makes me marvel that we are so durable and it also terrifies me that we are also very vulnerable.

The Titanic will always be a story more colossal than the mighty assembly of steel and flawed Gods that she was. But the huge saga will echo within the shadowy continuum of vaults that our sea consumes. Perhaps to echo in the eternity of human memory too.