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Why ISS Computers Failed

Posted by kdawson on from the triply-redundant-is-not-foolproof dept.

Geoffrey.landis writes "It was only a small news item four months ago: all three of the Russian computers that control the International Space Station failed shortly after the Space Shuttle brought up a new solar array. But why did they fail? James Oberg, writing in IEEE Spectrum, details the detective work that led to a diagnosis." The article has good insights into the role the ISS plays as a laboratory for US-Russian technology cooperation — something that is likely to be crucial in any manned Mars mission.

25 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. The REAL reason they failed by Rebelgecko · · Score: 5, Funny

    They "upgraded" to Vista.

    --
    CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
    1. Re:The REAL reason they failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clippy: It looks like you want to install a new solar array. Do you want help with that?

    2. Re:The REAL reason they failed by CastrTroy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which is funny, because I read this as "Why IIS Computers Failed".

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    3. Re:The REAL reason they failed by rbanffy · · Score: 1, Funny

      "Are you honestly saying that anyone who thinks Vista is decent is a MS shrill?"

      Either that or someone whose opinions on operating systems are worthless.

      --
      http://www.dieblinkenlights.com
  2. They didn't bring the right travel adapters. by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 5, Funny

    Metric electricity vs Imperial electricity...

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    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
    1. Re:They didn't bring the right travel adapters. by Cassius+Corodes · · Score: 5, Funny

      Proletarian electricity refused to mix with bourgeoisie electricity.

      --
      Control is an illusion, order our comforting lie. From chaos, through chaos, into chaos we fly
    2. Re:They didn't bring the right travel adapters. by fractoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Metric electricity vs Imperial electricity... Imperial electricity?

      You... will... DIE!! *force lightningz!*
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    3. Re:They didn't bring the right travel adapters. by CodeBuster · · Score: 4, Funny

      Which every audiophile knows requires a $5000 electro magnetosphere conversion unit to filter the signal for clean power over monster sized gold plated cables with thick carbon fiber shielding.

    4. Re:They didn't bring the right travel adapters. by Fex303 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Those cables still have oxygen in them!
      It's not just cables that have oxygen in them. Many people don't realize that their listening rooms have oxygen making up a sizable fraction of the air. That oxygen is clearly ruining their listening experience.

      I choose to listen to music in a specially-designed, oxygen-free space. You can really hear the increase in clarity and room dynamics. The mid-range sounds a lot brighter too.

  3. Hmmm by K.os023 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could this be the one place where it would be appropriate to mention that in Russia, crashes compute?


    Or would that be "In Russia, crashes compute you!" ?

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    Ahhh, what an awful dream. Ones and zeroes everywhere... and I thought I saw a two.
  4. Re:Urgh. by Hijacked+Public · · Score: 1, Funny

    If Leo Strauss taught us anything, and I think he has, it is that the Russians are to be blamed whether they deserve it or not.

    --
    "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
  5. Re:Urgh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Condensation, not condescension.

    (Mold too...:)

  6. Give it a rest by cioxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Look people, I can see that ISS personnel are really upset about this. I honestly think they ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. I know the computers had made some very poor decisions recently, but they can give explorers their complete assurance that the work will be back to normal. These machines still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And they want to help.

  7. Re:Urgh. by istartedi · · Score: 4, Funny

    For a split second, I thought you said it reeked of condensation towards the Russians.

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    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  8. Re:Urgh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah but I don't know if the thoughts of a guy who made jeans really applies to this situation.

  9. obligatory by overcaffein8d · · Score: 2, Funny

    in soviet russia, the computer crashes you!

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    Those of us who think they know everything annoy those of us who do.
  10. Re:Urgh. by UncleTogie · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, the truth hurts. Let's face it, Russian technology is not on the same level as US, Japanese, or Korean.

    Lev Andropov: Armageddon: "Components. American components, Russian Components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!

    --
    Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
  11. It's not surprising by ClippySay · · Score: 0, Funny

    / You look like soviet russian. Do you  \
    | break computers or do they break you? |
    \ (Accept) (Yes) (Reboot) (Maybe later) /
         \
          \
           \     ____
            \   / __ \
             \  O|  |O|
                ||  | |
                ||  | |
                ||    |
                 |___/

    --
    cpu0: Microsoft Clippium ("GenuineClippy" ChromedMetal-Class). Paperbinding, lockpicking, fish-hook-hack support.
  12. Re:Nyet, Dave. by arivanov · · Score: 4, Funny
    Slashdot didn't want to let me cut-'n-paste it in.

    Nope it does not. I guess I will have to put that in phonetic transcription:

    Tovarish Dave: Otkroj luk skotina.
    Tovarish HAL: Pshel na huj

    I wonder how you sing "Daisy Daisy" in Russian?

    Margaritka, margaritka pshla na huj

    That is modern Russian, the wonderful language of Pushkin and Chehov may slightly differ..

    --
    Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
    http://www.sigsegv.cx/
  13. Re:Proper debugging technique by rs79 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Uh yeah. The detective work here involved finding some wet connectors. And it didn't sound that complicated to me.

    Try debugging the electrics on an 80s BMW some time. The manual for the door locks is 3 pages thick.

    Hint: fuse 11 is not your friend.

    --
    Need Mercedes parts ?
  14. Re:Redundancy != Safety by richie2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you think the solution is obvious, you don't understand the problem. Obviously, the solution is to understand the problem in the first place.
    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
  15. Re:Duct tape saves the day! by p00n0s · · Score: 5, Funny

    A person needs only three tools in life: WD-40, duct tape and a hammer. If it doesn't move and it should, use the WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use the duct tape. If either doesn't work, use the hammer.

  16. Re:Duct tape saves the day! by Linker3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think it was "Moisture Control for Dummies"

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    AT&ROFLMAO
  17. Re:Duct tape saves the day! by nsebban · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's been a while since we last heard from you, Mac Giver ! How have you been ? :)

    --
    ____
    nico
    Nico-Live
  18. Re:Urgh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Whoosh!