BigFoot on Mars

[bonavada]

"Footprint" pictured on Mars by Pheonix lander!



Explanation http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7431264.stm

Seriously, I think this mission is going to throw up some real usefull data concerning life on this planet.


BV

[Mulder]

Setting up a mystery and explaining it straight away isn't fair! What about the fun of speculation?

[bonavada]

Setting up a mystery and explaining it straight away isn't fair! What about the fun of speculation?

<woo mode>
it's so obvious NASA are covering their tracks aready (or not if you think about it)

The craft's robotic arm reached out and touched the soil for the first time, leaving behind a striking, footprint-like impression, they said on Sunday

Robotic arm HAH! Anyone with half a brain like wot I have got can see that was a print left by a leg!

BV

[Graham Lappin]

Robotic arm HAH! Anyone with half a brain like wot I have got can see that was a print left by a leg! BV

You realize that this will be quoted out of context - "Skeptic Forum confirms footprint on Mars"

[bonavada]

You realize that this will be quoted out of context - "Skeptic Forum confirms footprint on Mars"

ho yus. And......not only left by a leg, was left by a left leg. Right?

Pete

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

Why would a robot arm leave a mark that looks like a footprint? Surely it would leave an 'arm' mark? I'm not convinced, and I don't know what Nasa are playing at trying to conceal this.

[Cuddles]

Why would a robot arm leave a mark that looks like a footprint? Surely it would leave an 'arm' mark? I'm not convinced, and I don't know what Nasa are playing at trying to conceal this.

Well, let's be serious here for a moment. Imagine you're designing a robotic arm for a mission to Mars. You know that one of the first things it does will be to prod the ground to test everything is working, and you know that that picture is likely to be broadcast around the world as soon as it arrives. Given that, what shape would you make the end of the arm? Would you do something boring and practical? Or would you stick a novelty foot model on the end to wind up all the alien nuts? I know which one I'd choose.

OK, the "serious" part may not have been entirely true.

[bobdezon]

I would have designed a comical wang imprint rather than a foot

[ZERO]

I would have designed a comical wang imprint rather than a foot

First there was the face and now the foot.
Something from around the middle is likely next.

[bobdezon]

Great minds think alike Although to be fair, Ive aways been quite sceptical of that claim

[Julia]

I would have designed a comical wang imprint rather than a foot

An excellent idea! The solar system is desperately short of comical wangs.