[Coco] Mars Rover problems

[Ward Griffiths]

Somebody provided this on one of the libertarian lists I subscribe to.

Ward
----- Original Message ----- 
From: CycloneRanger 
To: NPN Exec List 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 11:09 AM
Subject: FW: Probe goes limp!


NASA Gets Half-Hour of Signals From Rover

<< Since Wednesday, its 19th day on Mars, the Spirit had sent back to 
Earth only meaningless radio noise or simple beeps acknowledging 
receipt of commands. 

<< Among the possible causes: a corruption of its software or computer 
memory. If the software is awry, NASA can fix it from Earth by beaming 
patches across more than 100 million miles of space or by rebooting the 
rover's computer. But if the problem lies with the rover's hardware, 
the situation would be far more grave — perhaps beyond repair. >>
I can't help but wonder to which country NASA has outsourced its field 
service?

- - -

"This is Sanjay at the NASA Support Line. How may I be helping you? 
Please to be stating your name so I may feign intimacy with your 
problem."

<beep>

"Tank you very much, Mr. Beep. What is seeming to be the problem, and 
which system are we using today?"

<meaningless radio noise>

"Have you completely uninstalled your software and re-installed 
everyting before calling for the assistance?"

<beep>

"First please be verifying your serial number, finding on the side 
panel, or back panel perhaps."

<beep>

"I'm sorry, I do not show that being of validity. Please first be 
determing your serial number of valid, then follow the following steps, 
with precise:

"First, please be removing everyting and put it back on."

"Next, check to the connections and find them attached."

"Next, please be removing everyting and put it back on."

"First, please verifying the latest version of everyting and the proper 
serial numbers of them."

"Next, please be removing everyting and put it back on."

"Here is the number of tracking by which you must refer whenever calling 
back if the problem is not being fixed."

<click...dial tone>
-- 
Ward Griffiths	wdg3rd at comcast.net	http://home.comcast.net/~wdg3rd

Now we have nearly 500 dead Americans who died to protect the United
States from weapons that don't exist. And more will die, and for what
reason? So Halliburton and other big corporations can make a lot of
money? So Israel can feel safer? So we can have permanent military bases
in Iraq? So the president can strut about and call himself the Conqueror
of Iraq? One thing you can be sure of: They won't die defending the
United States, because Iraq is not now and never was a threat to the
United States.			-- Charley Reese