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Mars Failures: Bad luck or Bad Programs?

Posted by Hemos on from the what-makes-the-machine dept.

HobbySpacer writes "One European mission is on its way to Mars and two US landers will soon launch. They face tough odds for success. Of 34 Mars missions since the start of the space age, 20 have failed. This article looks at why Mars is so hard. It reports, for example, that a former manager on the Mars Pathfinder project believes that "Software is the number one problem". He says that since the mid-70s "software hasnâ(TM)t gone anywhere. There isnâ(TM)t a project that gets their software done."" Or maybe it has to do with being an incredible distance, on an inhumane climate. Either or.

2 of 389 comments (clear)

  1. An opportunity here... by theophilus00 · · Score: 5, Funny

    âoeThe limiting factor in Mars sample return is mass,â he said. âoeDirect return [of samples] from Mars right now exceeds the cost envelope and performance envelope of the available launch vehicles and upper stages.â

    The first samples returned should have mystical properties ascribed to them and then sold on EBay. This should generate enough revenue to substantially increase the size of the "cost envelope"...

    cheers

    (I got engaged last night) =)

  2. Re:I think it's the metric system by rasilon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since metric is the standard, there is no conversion needed. It's those damn silly imperial measurements that the Americans still use that causes the problems. Put it this way, we (the British) invented them, if we were willing to bin them decades ago in favour of something the French invented, they must have been really bad.