Here is another gap that has annoyed me about SF...<br /><br />How do probes work? What kind of gadgets can you drop into an atmosphere to gauge the planet's characteristics? Are they robots? If so, what levels, etc? How big are they and how much do they cost?<br /><br />Can any of these measurements be done from a ship without needing a probe? I always noticed in Star Trek they just glanced at a computer panel (or Spock's Blue Thang) and knew a great deal about the planet - even life forms. Obviously, that level of knowledge is silly, but how much can be gleaned from a ship, and what instruments would it need?<br /><br />Advanced spectrum analysis should be able to detect atmospheres and measure levels of gas quite accurately, given a little "Star Frontiers boost"...<br />
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