Deep Impact musings

[arib]

So, the Deep Impact probe is a few weeks away from launching it's payload into comet Tempel 1.

We've spent millions of dollars to launch something into space purely to blow up a giant snowball.

Don't take me wrong, I think it's a great idea, it just strikes me as silly sometimes.

Specifically, I'm reminded of the car commercial from a few months back featuring two children touring a crash test facility. I keep hearing this piece of modified dialogue in my head:

Kid 1: How about that rock thing?
Scientist: Actually, it's called comet Tempel 1
Kid 2: Whatever dude, just crash it!