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Space & Planetary Science

Stupid Mars Headline Goes Global And NASA Sits On Its Hands (Update)

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
April 15, 2021
Filed under

Keith’s note: This article in The Sun is featured front and center on Drudge Report which means that a hundred million people are going to see it and – even if they do not actually click on the link – they still get the impression that “NASA lander ‘in crisis’ as probe engulfed by Martian dust storms…” which points to “LIGHT’S OUT Nasa’s Insight lander ‘in crisis’ as $800m probe is engulfed by Martian dust storms“ on The Sun in the UK. The Sun does link to the latest NASA Insight report from JPL – dated 12 February 2021 – two months ago. Given the false impressions that are circulating one would think that JPL, SMD, and PAO would fix this situation with an update such that these stupid arm waving headlines do not start to echo around the world.
And of course everyone in the media – seeing one incendiary headline – and absent any update for 2 months from NASA – piles onto the exaggerated narrative with headlines using the words “die”, “deep trouble”, etc. Someone at NASA needs to manage this news much better. If the lander is indeed on the verge of shutting down – then say so. If not, then say so. Letting editors who pick headlines to get clicks is not the way to circulate accurate spacecraft health reports. Just sayin’
– NASA’s Lander Is About to Die on Mars, Interesting engineering
– NASA’s Insight Mars Lander Is ‘in Crisis’, And Has Entered Emergency Hibernation, ScienceAlert
– NASA’s Mars InSight lander may be in deep trouble, BGR
– NASA’s InSight Mars lander is going into emergency hibernation. If it can’t save its batteries, it could die., Yahoo
Keith’s update:

Keith Cowing

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

5 responses to “Stupid Mars Headline Goes Global And NASA Sits On Its Hands (Update)”

  1. Michael Spencer says:
    April 15, 2021 at 7:33 pm
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    If I’ve learned anything from decades of watching NASA, it’s this: they generally give the phrase ‘Island Time’ a new meaning. Expecting a 24-hour response is just too much to expect.

  2. Paul J Baker says:
    April 15, 2021 at 7:49 pm
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    Well, at least the Pfizer dosing announcement knocked InSight off the headline.

    But your larger point still stands.

  3. rktsci says:
    April 16, 2021 at 4:50 pm
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    This article in The Sun is featured front and center on Drudge Report which means that a hundred million people are going to see it

    Actually, not that many. The readership of the Drudge Report has been falling dramatically over the last few years. It’s not clear if Matt Drudge is even a part of it any more. https://www.tabletmag.com/s…

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