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From: rivero@kovacs.UUCP (Michael Foster Rivero)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Voyager at Uranus
Message-ID: <270@kovacs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 11:28:10 EST
Article-I.D.: kovacs.270
Posted: Fri Nov  8 11:28:10 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Nov-85 06:48:35 EST
References: <170@bambi.UUCP> <22000009@hpfcla.UUCP>
Reply-To: rivero@kovacs.UUCP (Michael Foster Rivero)
Organization: Robt Abel & Assoc, Hollywood
Lines: 35

In article <22000009@hpfcla.UUCP> ajs@hpfcla.UUCP writes:
>>> I doubt it.  When the Viking missions landed in '76, they sent home most
>>> of the JPL employees (!) for half a day.
>>
>> What was the reason for sending home "most of the JPL employees"?
>
>All I remember is, we got some notice from our managers (dunno if it was
>in writing), and I don't think we were paid for the time.  My vague
>memory is that it was paranoia about someone (anyone, even a JPL
>employee) somehow wrecking the landing, or even just the receipt of the
>data during the landing.  Remember, JPL is in California, where it's
>taken for granted that weirdos abound.  The honchos probably worried
>about some anti-science cult attempt to gain attention and/or prevent
>"heresy".
>
>Alan Silverstein


	  As a flight controller for the Viking Missions, I would like
	to  clear  the air a little.  The employees who were sent home
	were not sent home because they were suspected  wierdos!  They
	were  sent  home  to  gaurentee  a reduced load on all power /
	computer systems.

	  Viking had already suffered bad press for  missing  the  Bi-
	Centennial  landing date on July Fourth, and JPL was taking no
	chances on the landing itself.  Every piece of  computer  gear
	was  on standby, and sending everyone home was deemed the best
	way to keep 'em off the time sharing systems.

	  JPL people are NOT weird. Just delightfully eccentric!


				Michael Rivero
				First Order Viking Lander Image Processing