Probe Crash Due to Misdesigned Deceleration Sensor

squirrelhack writes "Seems as though the Genesis spacecraft was able to launch from earth, travel through space, avoid aliens, and cruise back into the atmosphere to be caught by stunt pilots waiting patiently with their helicopters. Alas, the brakes didn't work because a sensor was designed upside down.

Comments

Re:wtf

[AKAImBatman]

You didn't read the article very well. It says that the specs said the part should go in backwards. From the article:

The sensors, which are estimated to be less than an inch (2.5 centimetres) wide, were apparently installed in a circuit board in the wrong orientation - rotated 180 from the correct direction. But the problem stemmed not from the installation but the design, by Lockheed Martin, based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Re:no such thing as...

[dartboard]

This isn't a trick question on your high school physics quiz. Just because the term deceleration is not preferred because it is ambiguous does not mean that it doesn't exist. Maybe it's *acceleration* that doesn't exist!

From Dictionary.com:

3 entries found for deceleration.
decelerate Audio pronunciation of "deceleration" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-sl-rt)
v. decelerated, decelerating, decelerates
v. tr.

1. To decrease the velocity of.
2. To slow down the rate of advancement of: measures intended to decelerate the arms buildup.

v. intr.

To decrease in velocity.

References

[handorf]

Lest I get a bunch of "What are you talking about?" responses:

For them dropping the NOAA sat:
http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonda y_0410 11.html
(first link I found)

Climate Orbiter:
http://www.space.com/news/mco_report-b_9 91110.html

Re:There is a bright side

[Catbeller]

Always with the sun. What did the sun ever do to you?

Seriously, a solar or even a high earth orbit is fine for storing waste indefintely. Don't need to waste delta vee directing it into a star. Stuff is heavy.