HE LANDED A F***ING PROBE 4 BILLION MILES AWAY

Athens Summer Olympics, the release of ‘Mean Girls’, Usher’s ‘YEAH’ and the launch of the UK TV series ‘X Factor’ are all moments which, more or less, sum up the year 2004.

However, in the March of 2004 the European Space Agency launched a mission that, until now, most of the human race had forgotten about. This mission, spanning 11 years in total, was one which would reveal the mystery of comets and, in doing so, help us understand the origin and evolution of our Solar System. It would be the first mission of its kind to land a probe on a comet. Rosetta.

On the 12th November 2014 Rosetta successfully soft-landed its Philae probe on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko which is only about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) in diameter and travels at a phenomenal speed of 135,000 kilometers per hour. This was a truly significant moment in science, considering the spacecraft trekked a cumulative distance of around 4 billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers). The distance between us and this tiny man-made machine is so unimaginably large that it takes 28 minutes for its radio signals to reach ESA’s scanners.

Out there in the vast, empty abyss that is outer space is a microscopic speck that astrophysicists have carefully guided for 10 years with such accuracy that they have achieved the impossible. They have landed it on another minuscule speck. In the center of nothingness now lies a brave machine and scientific subject beginning their adventure together towards our star, the sun.

Let that sink in for a minute.

I know what you’re thinking, the achievement is indescribable right?! Imagine all the work, dedication, planning (11 years of such), money, intellectual ability and sacrifice that has gone into this momentous moment in human history. Imagine how relieved and ecstatic the ESA are. Imagine how overwhelmed the astrophysicists are feeling.

Well, all but one. Dr Matt Taylor. A spectacular human being who contributed to what I am sure you will agree is a ‘giant leap for man-kind.’ He had the honour of presenting a report on the incredible progress of Philae which would be one of the most memorable moments of his life.

I think it is fair to say that the minority of people actually listened to Dr Taylor’s fascinating information, the rest were more concerned about his fashion sense.

Now, I am not, for one second, condoning degradation of woman. I am a woman myself and although I would not describe myself as a feminist, I do fully support their movement to obtain equal rights for men and women. However, his shirt is simply, well, a shirt. It is a piece of fabric assembled in such a way as to cover a person’s body. I can guarantee there are many people who own a shirt with the exact same design.

I own a shirt that displays a picture of a monkey smoking a tobacco cigarette. Does this mean I am a horrific person who abuses animals? No. I am actually a vegetarian. It is just a design.

I also own a shirt with a printed picture of a young boy proudly presenting his middle finger. Does this mean I have a close minded perception of the younger generation? No. I actually have a qualification in childcare. It is just a design.

The greatest moment of Dr Taylor’s life, everything he has worked to achieve, his name going down in history, ruined. Ruined because he selected a particular shirt that sparked outrage.

Society has reached a point where every minute detail of a person’s life, from their image to their habits, is scrutinised and judged. Of course, there are times when something is so outrageously offensive that the issue has to be addressed and I fully support this. However, on a daily basis, I see both men and women wearing clothing that I can guarantee would set off mass debates should they be in the public eye.

The poor man broke down in tear as he apologised for his selection of clothing. At a time in his life that he probably assumed would be celebratory, filled with tears of joy and completed with fireworks and sprinkles, society successfully manages to strike down a person who has benefited man kind in a way the majority of us could not.

Instead of shunning people for their mistakes or ‘flaws’ why can we not congratulate and take pride in the success of our fellow human beings?

I am proud of what Dr Matt Taylor and his colleagues have achieved and I can confidently say that I will be following the rest of the Rosetta mission from a purely intellectual angle.