Two days ago, mankind achieved something that many thought was impossible: a man-made craft successfully landed on a comet moving through space. It was an incredible achievement, and could have huge ramifications years down the line. The idea of space travel doesn't seem quite so far-fetched when something like the Rosetta landing is possible.
For the most part, the social media response has been incredibly positive. The Rosetta landing has received an immense amount of coverage through sites like Facebook and Twitter, and while there are almost certainly detractors of the landing somewhere out there, the overwhelming reaction to the mission has been one of excitement.
Maybe a bit...too excited. There are a few people who went absolutely nuts about the landing, and leading the charge, of course, is Jose Canseco. The former MLB All-Star not only approves of the mission, but he went on an intergalactic Twitter rant of his own to gush about mankind's future among the stars:
Comet Transport is the key to our survival .
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
Opens up new business like galaxy touring cruising, asteroid mining, interstellar trade, and planet colonies — Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
Now, the idea of using an insterstellar body as a form of transportation does make a modicum of sense. If it were possible, using something that was already moving at an incredible speed through space would be practical; it'd be like piggy-backing on a giant ball of ice. It's only when Canseco starts claiming that comets have their own power sources and have been used as alien taxis that the idea begins to fall apart (thankfully we all benefit from the entertainment value of it):
Galactic Beings have used comets as star taxis for eons — Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
Comets are faster than anything we could ever build and have their own power solving are two problems — Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
If Earth can control the comet transport system we will run the Milkyway. Think about that — Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
Apparently, it seems that Mr. Canseco has extremely high hopes for the future of galactic tourism. If only he were able to figure out that pesky faster-than-light travel problem... Of course, Mr. Canseco is no fool. In one of his final tweets (which doubles as a thank-you to NASA), Canseco has claimed the comet as his own with '#cansecomet.'
hug for u NASA #cansecomet — Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 13, 2014
Here's the thing, Canseco, while a bit off the beaten path at times, is usually correct when it comes to his prognostications. Just look back at all of his opinions and predictions about baseball's steroid epidemic. It's pretty spot-on. At this rate, Canseco will be running the galactic tourism trade within a few years...if he's not too busy shooting off his own fingers, that is. While the finger was successfully reattached, the injury will leave Canseco without the full use of his right hand.
Maybe he shouldn't be the one to pilot the comet.
Photo: Kevork Djansezian (Getty Images Entertainment)
