@tamoko: Thanks!

@Barnabus: I intended the penetrator to just drop down and take pictures - no propulsion or anything under the surface, just a drop down from above. That simplifies things considerably!

@lorq: Yep, all good points! I'd say spacecraft engineers have enough design experience with airbags and thruster control to handle those bits fine, but even I'm worried about the data cable. Got any other ideas for getting data back from under the ocean? Because I'd love to hear them!

@twophrasebark: Nope, definitely not! I have two points for you, though:

Isn't it great when scientists become sci-fi writers? I love it!

I think the absence of ejecta rays on Earth craters has more to do with Earth's active geology - which slowly erases evidence of craters, starting with thin surface features like rays - than the thickness of the atmosphere. After all, craters on Venus often have ejecta blankets, and the atmosphere there is at least as…

@3Eyes: That is INSANELY awesome!

One of the most fun parts of being a scientist is when we get to say "We don't know."

Mr. Diaz:

@beefmalone: Well, when Congress gets their act in gear, you will. Obama's proposed a NASA budget increase of several billion dollars over the next few years!

@beefmalone: No, in fact, I mean their ambitious new exploration targets, actual technology research goals, substantial increase in funding for both manned and unmanned programs, and directive to develop a national capability for humans to live and work in space indefinitely.

Mr. Diaz: Please stop confusing the "Manned Space Program" (a vague phrase for our national space goals, the Vision for Space Exploration) with the Constellation Program, the program of NASA vehicles slated to achieve that vision. The Constellation Program, was on track to FAIL in the VSE's goals, getting us to the…

That was so timely - especially now that Gizmodo knows exactly how Mom-like Steve Jobs can be.