Software Error Likely Killed MGS Spacecraft

Aglassis writes "NASA investigators have determined that a software update performed in June of 2006 may have doomed the 10-year-old spacecraft. Apparently the software error caused the solar arrays to drive against a mechanical stop which then forced the spacecraft into safe mode. Unfortunately, after that the spacecraft's radiator was pointed at the sun which overheated the battery and destroyed it. Contact was lost with the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in November 2006. NASA will form an internal review board to determine formally the cause of the loss of the spacecraft and what remedial actions are needed for future missions."

Comments

I believe it was running a version of Linux

[The_Abortionist]

I am not surprised at the result at all. Some wanker at NASA thought that Linux was good enough for such a delicate and precise task. What's the TCO on that Linux installation? $500M ?

I think that a lot of productivity issues relating to IT in industries comes from the low-key Linux movement of techies who push to replace everything with Linux. They like to sweep the glitches under the rug.

This actually reminds me of all the Mac fans in the 90s who were dumping on Windows for its alleged lack of stability. But whenever they showed me their precious computer, it would completly crash before 5 minutes of browsing the web, or opening the calculator while the text editor (like notepad) was still opened.

Conservatives like to complain about activist judges, but for me, I see too many activist techies. They have a negative impact on their organisations. They should be eliminated.

Obligatory

[8ball629]

Sounds like a Microsoft OS update to me.