SPB is so confident of their victory that they voted for their chosen opponent!
No matter how you feel about how this competition has gone so far, SPB is in the driver seat, and they are daring anyone to challenge them. The only question left is whether or not SOHO can find enough supporters to vote for them for the entire 39 hours of the final round.
LRO, Apollo 11, Freedom 7 all had leads going into the final hour of voting before losing to late voting surges. Even Orion was competitive until the final 4 hours of their round against SPB.
SPB, soak your clicking fingers in palmolive for the weekend… wait, you guys don’t need that. You have hardened callouses.
For all of you SOHO supporters, stretch, soak, rub, jazzercise… whatever you need to do. In roughly 57 hours, you’ll need every mouse, mainframe and monitor you can access to deflate SPB.
Again, congratulations and good luck. And may the best* mission win.
The Co-Host
*I recognize that many people have contested the notion that this competition could actually reveal the best NASA mission. This is dramatic hyperbole for the sake of inspiring enthusiasm and the spirit of competition.
SOHO asked where the love was. We love you and helped as we could.
An SPB lover.
The semi-final was a brutal challange and our guys did not walk away without injury. No team could battle that many hours, against that many opponents, with out getting beat up a little. In the early hours Windbag Willie developed a blister on his mouse finger and sat out while being bandaged. Fanny Mae, the teams financial guru, broke a nail and was devistated for much of the night. Yours truly developed a case of blurred vision, loss of coordination and slurred speach as the night went on. I’m suffering from an awful headache this morning… must have been a bad chili dog?
Co Host…. you seem to be encouraging people to vote against SPB.
Et Tu Brute?
Co-Host seems so be encouraging the opposition to vote against SPB. Co-Host thinks it’s over for SPB.
What? Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until WE say it’s over! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Heck no! Because when the going gets tough……… the tough get going! Who’s with me?
Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you’ll live… at least for a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take… OUR FREEDOM!
SPB Army…… rise up one more time!
SPB Army….. Unite!!!!
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
I like this motivational approach. Here’s another.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Balloonists of the SPB Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave allies and brothers-in-arms, you will bring about the destruction of the SOHO war
machine, the elimination of SOHO tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Hey the co-host has been predicting against SPB from the start..nothing new about that. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made to the voting process, whatever they are we will overcome just like after the last, uh..non-change.
SPB Fans – Just wondering how the Co-host has been voting against you all from the start. Is he a secret spy for SOHO?
Chris
Host
Ah, what to do about the “popularity contest” in the future (should there be one). I agree with a previous blogger – to get a true idea of what the public thinks is the greatest mission ever, hire a marketing research firm (used to work for one, they are legit).
The alternative would be to prohibit voting by NASA employees, their families, and contractors, but of course there would be no way to enforce that. Well, maybe there is in a “dark” project somewhere, but if we knew about it they’d have to kill us and where’s the fun in that?
Have enjoyed the whole thing thus far, using it as a tool to spread the word about our relatively small and unsung balloon program (all the whining from sore losers aside).
SOHO, look forward to going head-to-head next round! Good thing helium isn’t highly explosive when exposed to heat!
PFC, Silver Pumpkin Zombie Army
Chris, I said predicting against, not voting against. We didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, we know that in no way, shape, or form did anyone involved with the setup of this contest want some small, non-rocket based program to win it. The “non-change” change was a good attempt to throw us off task, but we overcame, and will push to fulfill our mission. The mission being to open some eyes about the importance and the history of the NASA balloon program, more specifically Super Pressure Balloons,
The Co-Host has an important announcement to make.
After much consideration, I hereby officially endorse SOHO.
The reasons are varied, but simple.
1. SPB supporters ignorantly suggested that I was supporting other missions. They never asked for my support, nor did they bother asking which mission(s) I support. They took issue with me, yet they admittedly voted for SOHO in order to tweak LRO. I don’t like their double standard.
2. SOHO is the underdog. Sure SPB was the underdog in round 1, but after that they have crushed everyone they have faced. The true underdog is SOHO. In fact, a vote for SOHO is really a vote for MER, a vote for Apollo 11, a vote for all the missions that have fallen thus far.
3. The Sun has inspired much more vibrant music and literature than balloons. For example, “The Sun Also Rises,” “Here comes the Sun,” “Invisible Sun,” “Soak up the Sun,” “I’ll Follow the Sun,” and even “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. Balloons, however, are stuck with works like “Around the World in 80 Days” and “Up, Up and Away In My Beautiful Balloon.” I’d like to give Led Zeppelin to the Balloon folks, but because their debut album cover has the Hindenburg on the front, I didn’t think that would help their cause. However, “You’re Time is Going to Come” may be an appropriate theme song for them.
4. Truthfully, my bracket is trashed. Every mission I have predicted and even voted for has lost. So, in a bizarre way even my endorsement may be helping SPB.
There you have it. Let the speculation end. I am in the SOHO camp for the reasons you see here.
Good luck to both missions.
Peace,
The Co-Host
SPB terrified of LRO, so they vote for SOHO.
I hope the Co-Host bats 1000 with his endorsements.
SPB Army
@ the Co-Host
Hey person, you scare me a little. 🙁 You said,
“They took issue with me, yet they admittedly voted for SOHO in order to tweak LRO. I don’t like their double standard.”
Hey, I voted for SOHO cause LRO trounced Freedom 7 in a 3500 vote rally at the last hour. That takes lots of planning. I thought it was just too calculated so I voted against them for that reason. Maybe others did so too. ????
“2. SOHO is the underdog. Sure SPB was the underdog in round 1, but after that they have crushed everyone they have faced. The true underdog is SOHO. In fact, a vote for SOHO is really a vote for MER, a vote for Apollo 11, a vote for all the missions that have fallen thus far.”
I totally disagree. If you do not like SPB (the little engine that could..) thats fine, but one could just as well say that a vote for SPB is a vote for all those programs that were great that lost to these new up and comers that have not even launched yet.
And one last thing…. “Truthfully, my bracket is trashed. Every mission I have predicted and even voted for has lost”….. every one of my favorite missions have lost also. Apollo 11, Hubble, Freedom 7…. but ganging up on the winner cause you are mad your favorite lost…..
Hey. How about we just all take a breath….. decide which program we like the best, and vote for that program.????
Just a wild way to end this event….. Hmmmmm.
From a long time fan of NASA,
SOHO shall prevail!
LET’S GO SOHO! *clap, clap, clapclapclap* LET’S GO SOHO! *clap, clap, clapclapclap*
This whole thing which started out as a great idea has turned into a sad joke by no fault of anyone except for the SPB mob. I hope they’re happy for ruining this.
I wish I could say I’m sorry to those who feel the “SPB mob has ruined” this competition but I will not. We support each other in friendly competitions (such as this one) and in everyday life, so PLEASE get over it and wonder why are you having such a hard time beating us!
GO SPB SUPPORTERS – KEEP ON CLICKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Guest 18:
And what color is the sky on your planet?? SPB is NOT a mob.
PFC, Silver Pumpkin Zombie Army
Guest # 18 must be another bitter MER supporter (or another mission that lost to SPB). It seems to me that anyone that is still bitter or traumatized by losing must have a superiority complex and/or suffer from bad case of megalomania. Get over it! And once again, why is SPB single handedly being blamed for “ruining” this competition. First of all, the competition is not ruined, and secondly, EVERYONE in the competition has used the same voting practices as the SPB faithful.
MER supporters, be assured that your mission will continue to receive the praise that it deserves long after this contest is over. Let the little guy have his moment in the spotlight!
Honestly, all of you here who are not involved in either Solar Physics or Balloning (sorry, not sure what the appropriate term here is) — before Mission Madness, did you know about either of these two missions, SOHO and SPB? Probably not or at least not as much as you do now.
I have learned so much about SPB, what they do, how they do it and how they used the data. Most importantly, I have learned the passion they have. And for that, I did cast a vote for SPB today. (but I have also voted about 30 times for SOHO already – again, staying with the family).
Therefore, NASA Edge, your mission of educating has been accomplished.
I hope NASA EDGE is putting together a great picture with SPB and SOHO in it as like the trophy and send it out. It’s an honor for SOHO to be in the Championship and battling SPB. The entire SOHO team here in the US and in Europe are excited and proud.
Thank you for supporting us through this fun tournament.
Oh, and since we are the underdog, there is really no PRESSURE on us…hehehe!
Yours truly,
Little SDO HMI (MDI’s little brother)
Wait i’m confused…
So first, SPB gets criticized for assuming their supporters were voting for ONLY SPB…
Then SPB votes for SOHO and gets criticized?
Seems to me that no matter what the SPB team does, someone’s going to criticize them.
And co-host… you probably need to stay impartial? But.. whatever. do what you have to do.
To guest 18. I’m happy! And I’ll still be happy whether SPB or SOHO wins. And if any of my votes or actions have resulted in your misguided belief that the contest has been ruined – well, that’s just icing on the cake.
@Little SDO:
Absolutely! Like I’ve said before, I’ve been having a blast poking fun and throwing imaginary darts at the Great Pumpkin, but when it comes down to it, I’ve learned *so much* from this contest that honestly, I don’t particularly care who wins, as it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve learned some a bunch of really awesome projects that I might not have heard about otherwise. Okay, sure, I’m still bitter about Apollo 11 and MRO and such, but they’ve had their time to shine and will continue to do so. I like seeing the smaller, lesser-known missions get some love, too.
Yes, that’s right, Pumpkin Zombie Army: I’ve finally forgiven you for MER. Sigh.
stilltotallyvotingforsohothough,sorry.
Does anyone remember the 1960’s TV series “The Prisoner”? It featured a huge balloon which would chase people who opposed it and smother them. They would wake in hospital, days later.
This contest has echoes of that! Be Seeing You!
Re: Balloon Softie (24)
Comments like that are what earn others’ scorn. Does not help your cause. I am one of those that was disappointed with the direction that the game took. I never claimed that anyone did anything “illegal” or against the rules, just that it was taken in a different direction. You can interpret it your way, I will still interpret it my way.
Once it was taken a different direction, however, I continued to vote my conscience (for SPB’s opponents when SPB was up against what I believed to be more important/”better” missions; and for SPB when it was up against missions that had not flown). For all the SPB comments that this is just a game, you seem to be taking it a little too seriously if you are going to revel in others’ pain.
OK! Which one of you SPB Zombie Army members has been blabbing to David H in the UK about our plans for the used balloons??? Now they will be expecting the giant balloon attacks! Come on guys – think before you speak – the walls have ears.
Great point Little SDO HMI NASA Edge has done has given those of us who were “non educated” about alot of these missions,and fabulous peices of NASA Technology a chance to learn about each individual mission and task of each involved in Mission Madness. I myself for instance was not old enough to know about alot of the earlier NASA missions and just recently (last 5yrs or so) became obsessed with the Shuttle Program (late in the game I know) So, yea while the banter and bashing between the two teams supporters is fun. We have to understand what SOHO and SPB truly stand for. Thanks NASA Edge team for at least allowing me to have fun and learn more at the same time
Now, Get to Voting people!!..don’t just sit there..Sheesh!
Whichever mission wins, it has been a fascinating contest. Passions ran high and (occasionally) overflowed into just a hint of bad temper (no, surely not!).
Like Paul F. has been saying all along, the block voting (while not against the rules) turned the contest away from its advertised aims. I’m NOT getting at any one mission in particular. Is there any point in holding the same contest next year? All this has shown is which mission has the most enthusiastic supporters who also have the most time to spare. How relevant/interesting is this information to the public at large?
Thoughtfully, patiently, and finally yours,
David (long-time space enthusiast and supporter of missions: manned, deep space and Martian)
This is a major disappointment!! If law insists on repetitive voting, you should find a better way. I’ll not participate next year if this is how it is going to be. You have inherited a legacy of landing on the Moon and of rescuing Apollo 13, and you can’t figure a way to make voting (gathering opinion) more realistic?
This was Nonsense….instead of gauging NASA’s greatest mission, this has been an excercise in who could put together the best bloc of repetitive voters. How in the world – Universe – can that have a bearing on NASA’s greatest mission???
I agree with what Butch Whitmon wrote:
“This was Nonsense….instead of gauging NASA’s greatest mission, this has been an excercise in who could put together the best bloc of repetitive voters. How in the world – Universe – can that have a bearing on NASA’s greatest mission??? “
SPB supporters ruined the contest by turning it into a clicking match.
Hopefully next year NASA Edge finds a way to enforce a ONE PERSON – ONE VOTE rule. Lets see how great SPB does then.
#32
Don’t take out all your frustration on SPB, other groups were just as guilty of the multiple voting!