Houston, We Have a Software Problem

An anonymous reader writes "The computer system that launches the Space Shuttle is an old, but important, computer system. It is built from mid 70's technology and features SSI chips like 7400's...which are getting hard to find. It has 64k of memory and no room to repair any software bugs. NASA started the CLCS project in 1996 which uses state of the art computer languages, OO methodologies, and hardware. Everything that you could actually hire people off the street for. However, NASA is in a budget crunch with the Space Station cost overruns. It is looking to trim costs to keep the Space Station going. There are stories about CLCS getting cancelled here and these guys say its already cancelled."

Comments

It has 64k of memory

[Semi-Psychic Nathan]

But I thought 64k should be enough for anybody...

Or you could just...

[Ed Avis]

At some point it might be cheaper to give up on computers and just pilot the Shuttle by hand.

Hey, O'Keefe, look what I found on SourceForge...

[Boss, Pointy Haired]

What?

"shuttle_launcher_0_1"

Excellent. That'll save a few dollars. What's the development status?

"1 - Planning, sir"

Ah.

A Simple Solution

[NeuroManson]

(1) Print up 50,000 numbered authenticity certificates...

(2) Break down the old mainframes until you have roughly 50,000 pieces...

(3) Sell it on eBay (or other auction sites) as space memorabilia, mention that the computer the parts came from were responsible for guiding the Apollo missions to the moon, etc and so on... The machines are SO obsolete now that the only way they could pose a security risk is by sending them back in time...

(4) Profit!

(5) Buy a nice little beowulf cluster, hire 20 Linux geeks and feed each of them $50 in dew and pizza in exchange for setting up the system...

(6) Use remaining funds to pay the Russian space agency to have a little "airlock accident" for that Nsync guy...

Re:A Simple Solution

[Anonymous DWord]

In re: point number 6, I know you'll be sad to hear that 'N Sync guy's flight is no longer on. There was an article in the NY Times last Wednesday that made me laugh.

...
[Lance] Bass, of the pop group 'N Sync, had been training at the Star City cosmonaut complex outside Moscow; he was told today to pack his gear and leave after "failing to fulfill the conditions of his contract," a spokesman for the space agency told Reuters.
Adding insult to injury, the space agency said Mr. Bass, 23, would be replaced on the October mission by a cargo container.

Oh come ON guys!!!

[nettdata]

It's not like this is rocket science!

Oh, wait....

Easy solution

[broken]

Hire John Carmack to do the job. He's into rocketry so he gets to learn more about the whole thing, you get a kickass system, and he may even do it for free.

The guy's so good he may do a better job than a bloated team of 400 contractors.

Re:This is how you launch the shuttle

[Kymermosst]

Hah! I don't think a 1541 is fast enough to handle that!

My Apple II, on the other hand, you just insert the disk and flip the power, and the NASASHUTTLE program comes up automatically, in 1/10th the time your C= disk drive loads it!

Of course, your version has better sound, and sprite graphics... but oh well.