That's a whale of a tale.

/amidoinitrite?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know this is wrong to treat monkeys this way.

At first glance the lunar lander thing in the foreground appeared to be a Portal gun. Then my hopes were dashed.

So 60 years later this is all Space Nuttery can achieve? More monkey tests?

And why would a young person choose a dead career path from decades ago?

Gee Dad, I want to be a telegraph engineer!

[Man:] Oh, tell me you wanna touch me.
[Woman:] Tell you what?
[Man:] Oh, yeah.
[Woman:] Ooo, show me that monkey you got there.
[Man:] Ah, here?
[Woman 2:] Hey, what's the monkey?
[Man:] This is the monkey, baby. Say hi. Say hi to the monkey, the monkey likes you.
[Woman:] Will it bite?
[Man:] Yeah...Y..No, he doesn't bite as long as you're nice to him. No, no he won't
bite you. Nuh. I want you to pet the monkey now.
[Woman:] 'kay? Does it like that?
[Man:] Ye-ah ha ha.
[Woman:] Like, right like, oh, right there?
[Woman 2:] Like?
[Man:] Yeah. Oh, oh yeah.
[Woman:] Uh huh, oh wow, this is great.
[Man:] I have something else I want you to do for me.

/obscure?

I don't like The Monkees either, but I thought they were already irradiated.

I guess the PETA folks could volunteer for radiation experiments. No monkeys getting hurt, and PETA hippies getting cooked all in the name of advancing space flight, I see no problem with this plan.

/Voting? Why not.

Awww, not the cute monkeys!
They should use orphans instead.
/or lawyers.

We can never strive to leave the solar system or plan manned missions to other planets because princess cant irradiate a monkey. Meanwhile in a dozen countries in Africa "Bushmeat its what's for dinner!" is a popular marketing slogan.

What was her CLEARANCE?!? WHAT WAS HER CLEARANCE?!?

/And Who made her Lord of the Apes?

//Not too obscure

irradiated monkey tastes best

JC

Ten posts in a story about irradiating monkeys and no Project X references? For shame Farkers. For shame.

I hear she fights crime now.

Subby and I have a different definition of "cute". Looks as if she could take out an eye with that schnoz.

That's better.

/hot like radiation poisoning

NutWrench
I wish I were a rocket scientist just so I could have a snazzy comeback when someone says, "what are you? some kind of rocket scientist?"

Link (new window)

Reminds me of a graduation party at a friends house I went to a while back. About half the people I spoke to at the party were going to work for NASA. I felt a bit out of place as I'd never partied with rocket scientists.

As far as the linked story goes, I thought that type of animal testing ended decades ago. If not, it should have. Based on youtube videos alone, there are enough stupid humans out there who'd be willing to do it for a relatively small amount of cash/trade.

So either she thought that going into space without any tests constitutes an acceptable risk, or that they just needed to test a different kind of animal.

Those are the only two rational arguments that a NASA scientist might make to object to these tests.

honestly I don't have a huge problem with this if it's used for a non frivolous reason. It didn't sound like there was a viable alternative for this particular experiment and testing radiation levels in space seems relatively important.

my 2 cents

I worked as a rocket scientist and have done cooperative work for nasa. Quitting over it seemed like an overreaction.

I love her argument that we should just be inventing better radiation shielding rather than working on biological radiation mitigation. I mean, the space elevator is still just a novel idea, not a work-in-progress. Maybe when we have to-orbit costs that are a hundredth of the current level, we can rationally discuss strategies like "put a bigger lead plate at the back"

Also, obviously, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work at NASA.

I was staying in a hotel in Washington DC last year and went down to the bar for a burger and beer. A NASA employee (he was wearing a name badge) got up from his table and left the lobby for what had to be 20-30 minutes. He left his laptop /w flashdrive on the table, hardly anyone else around.

/doubted there was anything classified, but did think he wasn't too bright

Does popping them in the microwave for 10-12 on high count as irradiating them? 'cause they take, like, forever when you bake 'em in the oven.

Stillwater: People, we're in danger of losing our funding. America isn't interested in space exploration anymore.
Babcock: Maybe we should finally tell them the big secret, that all the chimps we sent into space came back super intelligent.
(A chair swivels around, revealing a chimp in a suit, wearing glasses, and smoking a pipe.)
Chimp: (arrogant; English accent) No, I don't think we'll be telling them that.

Why are we still doing animal tests?

We have PLENTY of convicts, and using them means we know what happens to humans, no need to extrapolate data. We could even give them an incentive, such as reduced sentences, cash upon release, or (if prisons were run properly) a hot meal.

I dunno, seems like we're not hearing the whole story here. NASA's kind of a big organization, you know? This is like quitting your job as a Yosemite park ranger because you object to the conduct of the war in Afghanistan. I get she feels strongly about it, but, um, no way this action will be effective except in causing her trouble.

FTA: Since leaving NASA, Evans has moved into her brother's spare room. She's also falling into debt.

"I've dedicated myself to trying to stop these experiments," she said. "But at some point I've got to find a way to pay for my car. I know I need to make a living, but it's hard for me to think about that because I never expected to be working anywhere but NASA."

Yeah, when you walk away from your job in a down economy, life gets really hard. Amazing that a farking rocket scientist couldn't see that coming.

Wow. Dumping her lucrative dream job over something PETA gives a FARK about? Double fail.

I hope this chick gets cancer...

"NASA can ill afford to lose gifted people like April Evans..." said Kathy Guillermo, PETA's vice president of laboratory investigations.

Not that I'm for irradiating monkeys, but this seems kind of silly. There are lots of gifted scientists who would love to work for NASA and its affiliated labs (like JPL). I'm sure she is a very smart lady (and yes, I'd hit it in a second), but they'll find someone perfectly capable of replacing her without too much trouble.

any chance to say PETA SUCKS is fine by me.

I like how the Houston Chronicle, which is based in Houston, which is home to the NASA Johnson Space Center, feels the need to refer to her as a "local" NASA engineer.

As if you couldn't farking figure out that the Houston Chronicle wasn't going to be reporting such a non-story from Marshall, JPL, Kennedy, Stennis, or one of the other NASA centers.

/Needs a drink.

This is a conflicting one.

On one hand, yes, it is kindof a cruel experiment. The chimps probably face necropsy, even on the off-chance that the radiation is completely harmless. At such high radiation levels, they'll most likely face pain, cancers, massive radiation poisoning, and a host of other terrible effects.

On the other hand, there just aren't that many other human analogues that can be used to study the effects of these dangers as effectively as our simian cousins. Sure, there are rats, pigs, and several others that will work to some degree, but when seeking a broader understanding of the total impact of these forces on human beings, you need the closest thing possible that's still reasonable.
And if you have to choose between species, where do you draw the line? You would be harming some form of life, regardless of what species is chosen. Whether that's a fellow human being or if it's an animal is an easy, but tough, choice for a researcher.

Until we can fully simulate the complete physiological makeup and unpredictable circumstances that comprise life itself, we will be forced to use the less appealing route unfortunately.

This strikes me as similar to pharmacists who object to distributing birth control to women. How did she not know going in that there would be animal experimentation? NASA's been doing that for half a century. Then again, at least she quit, unlike pharmacists who continue to work and deny women medication. I hope she's able to find another position more in line with her principles.

I still cry like a baby when I think about Laika, but I understand that animal experimentation is a necessary...oh god, I've got something in my eye...

The Jami Turman Fan Club: Does popping them in the microwave for 10-12 on high count as irradiating them? 'cause they take, like, forever when you bake 'em in the oven.

These guys go well in the oven:



/And no, the microwave uses radio frequency, not X-Rays.

Just remember, if you don't push the button, someone else will for less then you are getting paid right now.

I had an ethical concern on a project a few years ago, when I tried to talk to my boss about it he basically said my option was to quit per the "no fault contract" and have zero repercussion for doing so or keep my job and stfu. I was assured this situation would not come about again, it did a few months later the day before I was offered my current job.

Dag Nabbit, I can't post images from here, so allow me:

*clears throat*

[In the voice of Curly Bill from Tombstone (1993)]

"Well, BYE!"

/leaving disappointed

Thought someone mentioned spider monkeys.
Leaves disappointed.

miltonbabbitt: Based on youtube videos alone, there are enough stupid humans out there who'd be willing to do it for a relatively small amount of cash/trade.

You haven't been able to do lethal human testing in the west since 1945.

MK-Ultra71: Wow. Dumping her lucrative dream job over something PETA gives a FARK about? Double fail.

Unless it involved a piece of chicken between 2 pieces of bread, I doubt PETA will even notice. Or care.

Good, starve in the breadline. Way to put our distant cousins before freakin' humanity lady. Thanks.

neetro: Also, obviously, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work at NASA.

I was staying in a hotel in Washington DC last year and went down to the bar for a burger and beer. A NASA employee (he was wearing a name badge) got up from his table and left the lobby for what had to be 20-30 minutes. He left his laptop /w flashdrive on the table, hardly anyone else around.

/doubted there was anything classified, but did think he wasn't too bright

Sounds par for the course. Some of the most intelligent people there are utter morons when it comes to computer security. Frighteningly, this includes about half of their computer people.

/Worked there all last decade
//Military contracting is more stable