April 07, 2004

NASA probe returning with solar booty

Okay, that headline just sounds bad, but it's what the article posted at CNN used. The closing paragraph has me wondering what NASA's been smoking recently:

"To preserve the delicate solar particles in their matrix of gold, sapphire and diamond, specially trained helicopter pilots will snag the return capsule from mid-air using giant hooks. The flight crews for the two helicopters assigned for the capture and return of Genesis are former military aviators, Hollywood stunt pilots and an active-duty Air Force test pilot."

Suddenly, I have images of Willy Wonka's Elevator and its "sky hooks" whirling through my mind...

Posted by thinkum at April 7, 2004 07:24 PM
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