Stones Cry Out
by KeithIt is the 12th anniversary for an instrument I worked on that is still going strong.
I worked on the MDI instrument on this spacecraft, which, in the not too distant past, got lost.
At the time of this spacecraft’s loss, a high ranking ESA official made a comment that stuck with me.
I wish I had the actual words, but it was something like this: “Returning full functionality to the spacecraft is about as likely as Jesus Christ returning to the earth.”
At least that is how I remember the quote.
Well, after the recovery, I would have given zero chance that the birefringent crystals that made up the Lyot filter would have survived the cold temperature. After all, these are just rocks (calcite crystals) dug out of the ground. One slight imperfection, and they shatter into a beautiful pattern of shards. As the spacraft was slowly warmed, I wondered about the comment.
After the instruments were turned on, all 10 crystals worked perfectly. All the components, and instruments were subjected to -50C temperatures or colder and survived this ordeal.
I’m reminded of the scripture “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40)
Tags: SOHO
January 14th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
What a great witness those stones were! I wonder if the ESA official’s view of the possibility of Christ’s return has changed at all, or if he will continue to use that analogy in the future.
The rocks cry out indeed!
January 17th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
What about rockheaded people? Do they count, too?