Martin S If there's a null result on Earth but not elsewhere, "Game over, man." From the position of a layman, I believe I would have to capitulate if this were demonstrated. You did not however comment upon my figures as they relate to the chances of a successful rendezvous with Mars by an Earth origined exploratory vehicle. Should such a mission be successful, would you also strike your colours? Regarding the annual rotation rate of 10^-13 radians -- that has thus far slipped past me. It is rather slower than I believe would catch my attention even if I did have a reference point! But more accurately, it has not yet percolated up to the level of Horizon and Discovery. I do envy those among us who have the intellect and training to be sufficiently close to the cutting edge as to be among the first to be aware. My immediate thought however is that we are living in a closed system, and while nothing is being added, nothing is being taken out. Are you aware of a mechanism which would suggest that the rotation rate should change? My immediate thought would be that the constant conversion from matter to energy might bear upon this, but loss of mass in a non damped rotating system should not change its angular velocity. Any comments? Paul D ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sick of deleting your inbox? Yahoo!7 Mail has free unlimited storage. http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/unlimitedstorage.html