As if 2020 couldn't get any weirder, today a press mail from Valve Software entered our inbox because Gabe Newell, president of Valve, is getting a garden gnome sent into space. Yes, really, truly this is actual news and a thing that is happening. No this is not Kerbal Space Program.
This isn't some big joke, far from it. Working with Rocket Lab, a garden gnome will be launched into space while Newell from Valve watches. So why? Newell has announced that for every person who watches the launch live or within 24 hours of launch, one dollar will be donated by Newell to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship. With the email joking that this will help "Newell's ultimate dream -- launching a children's hospital into space -- but in the interim will be used for more practical hospital-related purposes".
The gnome is no ordinary garden ornament either. Created with the help of Weta Workshop, not only is it printed in the shape of Half-Life gaming icon Gnome Chompski, part of this is also to test "and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components" and also as something of a homage to "the innovation and creativity of gamers worldwide". Sadly, Chompski is not expected to make it back to earth as it will burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere during the de-orbiting process.
For those who didn't know, Gabe Newell has been in New Zealand visiting Weta Workshop and Rocket Labs, when the pandemic hit and has since called Auckland his temporary home. The email mentioned that Newell has been "looking for a way to help the economy and the community that sheltered him (or at least hasn't kicked him out yet)" and to assure the people of New Zealand that "his eccentric attempts at charity are largely harmless and pose no immediate threat to their way of life".
You will be able to watch it happen live at https://www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream sometime on November 16 NZT / November 15 UTC with the exact time to be confirmed. More info on the full mission here.
Update: it happened, watch it here.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
slaapliedje Nov 2, 2020
Quoting: whizseI wonder what it is with billionaires and their affinity for launching things into space? Did Scrooge McDuck suffer from the same complex? What will I launch into space when my bank account ticks over nine digits? Serious questions these!If I were crazy rich, I'd want to launch things into space too. I mean it's SPACE! Like one of the coolest things Mark Shuttleworth ever did was go into space. I'd love to go into space.
Quoting: whizseI wonder what it is with billionaires and their affinity for launching things into space? Did Scrooge McDuck suffer from the same complex? What will I launch into space when my bank account ticks over nine digits? Serious questions these!
I mean, there was the Spear of Celine...
You might have a point.
TheRiddick Nov 3, 2020
Quoting: jarhead_hOne hopes that they will first remove the children *before* their hospital gets launched into space.
Your asking too much of the aristocrats!
Quoting: jarhead_hOne hopes that they will first remove the children *before* their hospital gets launched into space.Me, I'd hope they'd add pressurization and a life support system so the kids get to go to space. I mean would that be cool or what? Kids never get to go to space, but they're the ones who would really appreciate it.
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoRemember that in Episode 2 there was steam achievement about launching the gnome to the space.Gabe is playing HL2 Ep2 and wants to get all achievements. But the guide he's read was written in too obscure way. Someone, tell him that he doesn't have to launch a real gnome figurine into real space.
BTW, it is Gaben's birthday today.
Last edited by ageres on 3 November 2020 at 4:58 am UTC
Quoting: GrabbyThanks Greta, I'm a little less incensed at the world today (at least till tonight).Quoting: The_Aquabatmore space waste, another drop in the ocean. who cares right?The gnome is piggybacking on an already planned launch with 2 other payloads. Besides, it's all going in low earth orbit where space debris aren't really a problem (they de-orbit themselves after a while).
Quoting: slaapliedjeI'd love to go into space.consider industrial deep diving. the ocean is almost the same as the space - tough, exp[A|E]nsive and homicidely inhospitable and unwelcoming for human species.
Also recommend SOMA. It has both and upon completing you just well may end up craving this Space of yours a little less. Kinda start valuing our old Mother Earth that little bit more.
Quoting: Purple Library Guyso the kids get to go to space. I mean would that be cool or what? Kids never get to go to space, but they're the ones who would really appreciate it.I wish I could like that comment more than once.
Just about everything has been sent to space by now, from microbes to grown-ups... but never any children, who are indeed the ones dreaming of going to space.
I mean, I still do dream of going to space one day, but how pale in comparison is that to a child dreaming.
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