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Lost: Beagle, Last Seen Near Mars — Parallax Forums

Lost: Beagle, Last Seen Near Mars

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2015-01-19 10:25 in General Discussion
http://www.cnet.com/news/has-nasa-found-the-missing-beagle-on-mars/#ftag=YHF65cbda0

British Beagle lander found? Tell ya Friday.

Why did it fail? Did Beagle use a British Picaxe instead of a Propeller? Dogs need cogs!
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Comments

  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2015-01-14 02:51
    It is interesting, what will remain there after say 10 million years? what is average life of high tech device in such conditions, before it becomes unidentifiable pile of dust? :)
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-14 07:57
    erco wrote: »
    British Beagle lander found? Tell ya Friday.

    Why did it fail?

    If you've ever owned a British-made car, you wouldn't need to ask this question! :)
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-14 08:19
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    If you've ever owned a British-made car, you wouldn't need to ask this question! :)

    Ooohhh, I'll have to watch this one! :)

    I had two 1968 Triumph Spitfires. I hope the Beagle didn't have carbs to synchronize. :)

    (Awaiting hate mail from England).
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2015-01-14 08:21
    ...like the bumper sticker seen on an MG, "The parts falling off this car are of the finest British manufacture." :)
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-14 10:38
    Publison wrote: »
    (Awaiting hate mail from England).

    Nah, the British are the ones who spread the jokes!

    I grew up with Jaguars -- the cars, not the cat. GREAT looking (and sounding) automobiles. Terrible electrics.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-14 10:39
    User Name wrote: »
    ...like the bumper sticker seen on an MG, "The parts falling off this car are of the finest British manufacture." :)

    Wiring by Lucas, the Prince of Darkness! "A gentleman does not motor about after dark."

    "It's not true that Lucas, in 1947, tried to get Parliament to repeal Ohm's Law. They withdrew their efforts when they met too much resistance."

    http://www.mez.co.uk/lucas.html Lucas fuse selector and more

    fusereplacement.jpg

    med_gallery_3420_821_405307.jpg
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2015-01-14 20:13
    erco...Best laugh all day!


    Disclaimer: I'm a true anglophile and admire British engineering. I also admire US engineering despite the Pinto and Chevette.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-15 08:50
    Publison wrote: »
    I had two 1968 Triumph Spitfires. I hope the Beagle didn't have carbs to synchronize.

    You had to synchronize carbs on two different cars together? That IS finnicky!

    And I thought syncing my Corvair's FOUR single barrels was tough.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-15 09:14
    erco wrote: »
    You had to synchronize carbs on two different cars together? That IS finnicky!

    .

    LOL

    Syncing the two Weber 40 IDE carbs on my 1968 Porsche 912 was a nightmare.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-15 09:36
    Weber? Give me Rochester or give me death!
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-01-15 09:53
    erco wrote: »
    And I thought syncing my Corvair's FOUR single barrels was tough.

    Should be easy since it doesn't run! :0)

    I don't remember syncing it, I just had a big Holly that was like taking a 5 gallon gas can and pouring it straight into the manifold as fast as you could. I'm glad gas was cheap way back then!!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-15 10:14
    mindrobots wrote: »
    Should be easy since it doesn't run! :0)

    I don't remember syncing it, I just had a big Holly that was like taking a 5 gallon gas can and pouring it straight into the manifold as fast as you could. I'm glad gas was cheap way back then!!

    I actually had a Holley Two-Barrel, called the "Bug Spray" on my VW 1900CC bug. Stock was a one barrel Solex.

    Boy I love air cooled engines.

    Boy, did we get off topic, but I don't think the OP will mind. :)
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2015-01-15 14:44
    mindrobots wrote: »
    I don't remember syncing it, I just had a big Holly that was like taking a 5 gallon gas can and pouring it straight into the manifold as fast as you could. I'm glad gas was cheap way back then!!

    I had a 70 Chevelle SS with the LS-6 454. It had a huge Holly double-pumper on it. I swear, when you floored it you could see the needle on the fuel gauge moving. Even at 35 cents a gallon I could easily go through $5 worth of gas in one night out.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-15 15:55
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    I had a 70 Chevelle SS with the LS-6 454. It had a huge Holly double-pumper on it. I swear, when you floored it you could see the needle on the fuel gauge moving. Even at 35 cents a gallon I could easily go through $5 worth of gas in one night out.

    Ahh the days of 25-35 cent gas. Filled up the VW Beetle for $2.50. 300 mile cruise.

    Last time I filled up the Suburban 454 last year, $160.00. Now it' 8 MPG to go to the dump and back. $10.00.

    I don't drive it much unless it's a paying job. :)
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-15 17:06
    User Name wrote: »
    I also admire US engineering despite the Pinto and Chevette.

    Well, there's still Pacer and Gremlin, to name a few. Gotta admit they went through some pretty strange designs.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-15 17:08
    You guys and your American muscle cars. Give me a 1960's XKE any day. Sex on wheels.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type#mediaviewer/File:SeriesoneJag.jpg
    250px-SeriesoneJag.jpg
    250 x 107 - 13K
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2015-01-15 20:00
    I had a '64 Spitfire. Awfully cantankerous, but I loved it.

    @
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-16 04:12
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    You guys and your American muscle cars. Give me a 1960's XKE any day. Sex on wheels.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type#mediaviewer/File:SeriesoneJag.jpg

    You need to check your exhaust for leaks...
    It was the Jaguar E-type that wa 'sex on wheels'!
    (Can we even use that description in this forum?)


    8MPG?
    Man, and I thought I had it hard with my Berlingo only doing 37mpg this summer...
    Sure, my car is a 1999 model and it was full of IKEA boxes, but still...
    (Apologies to US citizens. You can't get one... you may be able to pick up a Peugeot Partner in Mexico, though. Not certain if you're allowed to import it, though)
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2015-01-16 05:08
    Publison wrote: »
    Ahh the days of 25-35 cent gas. Filled up the VW Beetle for $2.50. 300 mile cruise.

    Last time I filled up the Suburban 454 last year, $160.00. Now it' 8 MPG to go to the dump and back. $10.00.

    I don't drive it much unless it's a paying job. :)

    LOL... I can remember back when someone might go to the filling station and "splurge" for a dollar's worth. (And five dollars was a fill up for many cars.)

    Amanda
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-16 07:59
    Gadgetman wrote: »
    You need to check your exhaust for leaks...
    It was the Jaguar E-type that wa 'sex on wheels'!

    Same car. It said "E-Type' on the back, but at least in the US, we all called them XKE's.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-17 09:30
    This thread has evolved into a much more interesting subject than it started, and I have no intention of rerailing it. But for Beagle lovers, ESA says yes, they located their lost pup: http://news.yahoo.com/beagle-found-mars-missing-lander-finally-located-104351414.html

    How cool would it be for a rover to inspect Beagle's landing site? Hopelessly far I'm sure, but fun to think about.

    We now return to our previous discussion of "sex on wheels", already in progress. Gordon, the closest I ever got to owning a Jaguar was entering a contest as a kiddie to win an XKE by mailing in some wrappers from imported Regal Crown Sour Cherry Candy. I was into freebies even way back when!

    RegalCrownCandy.jpg
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2015-01-17 13:28
    Did someone mention Jaguar?


    attachment.php?attachmentid=112864&d=1421613550
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2015-01-17 23:49
    Rich, pic not showing up. And yes, Gordon did in post #17.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2015-01-18 12:44
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    Rich, pic not showing up. And yes, Gordon did in post #17.

    Weird, does it show up now?
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2015-01-18 13:00
    Yes, it's there now.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-18 14:23
    Rich, 'Tis a beauty!
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2015-01-18 19:16
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    Nah, the British are the ones who spread the jokes!

    I grew up with Jaguars -- the cars, not the cat. GREAT looking (and sounding) automobiles. Terrible electrics.

    Lousy gaskets as well. Leaked every kind of fluid.

    Must admit that the car I enjoyed driving most of all was a hybrid. Part British, part US. That Sunbeam Tiger could blow the doors off anything except the big L88 Corvettes.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-18 19:31
    kwinn wrote: »
    Lousy gaskets as well. Leaked every kind of fluid.

    Who you talking to? :) Air-cooled (barely) Corvairs were the king of oil leaks. Among other places, at 24 O-rings on 12 pushrod tubes. High performance cylinder heads were often within 150 degrees of melting their own aluminum, so those O-rings got royally abused. The 1960's vintage rubber O-rings never lasted very long. GM sold their last Corvair in 1969; only in the 70's did high-temp Viton O-rings come along and helped the problem. Too little, too late. Oh, Ralph Nader's book and the V-8 Mustang didn't help things either.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-18 21:16
    kwinn wrote: »
    Lousy gaskets as well. Leaked every kind of fluid.

    Our family Jags didn't have this particular problem (unless it was induced, as it could be with the '64 E-Type, like revving it up right after starting). They did have other problems, namely brakes. My step father eventually had to sell the '57 Mark VIII when he couldn't get brake parts any more. They had to be custom machined, and at outlandish prices. This was circa 1978 and a machined master cylinder could be hundreds. Doesn't sound like much now, but I can't imagine would it be be today.
  • msrobotsmsrobots Posts: 3,709
    edited 2015-01-18 21:33
    Corvairs do not leak oil. They just mark their space, like dogs...

    Enjoy!

    Mike
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