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NASA Draws On Open Source For Shuttle Bug-Tracking

Posted by Soulskill on from the hard-to-argue-with-cheaper-and-faster dept.

thefickler writes "NASA has built a new software package to track problems with the Space Shuttle using open source tools from Mozilla. '[Alonso Vera, the lead of the Ames Human-Computer Interaction Group] wouldn't say exactly how much the new systems cost to build, but he said they were an order of magnitude cheaper than what was being used before, closer to $100,000 than the $1 million it would have cost in the past.' The Space Shuttle Endeavor launched successfully on Friday, so the new system is being used to track any problems which may crop up in the current mission. As one commentator pointed out, 'A system like this could save more than money; it could save lives.'"

10 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. They're already using it by Minwee · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bug number one with the Space Shuttle is that "Microsoft has a majority market share in space travel".

    1. Re:They're already using it by peragrin · · Score: 3, Funny

      you didn't think the shuttle columbia blew up because of foam hitting a tile did you?

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    2. Re:They're already using it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      you didn't think the shuttle columbia blew up because of foam hitting a tile did you?

      Of course he doesn't! But the tile fell off because of Microsoft! If the design engineers weren't using Microsoft products somewhere in their lives (even if it was just MS Money at home), the accident would never have happened!

      Oh yeah, it was also Bush's fault, too.

      This is Slashdot after all.

    3. Re:They're already using it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      See, comments like yours are dangerous and hate-speech. That's why we need to implement an Extended Fairness Doctrine everywhere to supress the expression of divisive thought- er. Protect The Children. That's what Change is all about, after all.

  2. Bugzilla? Really? by rfreedman · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, the rocket scientists looked at all of the available open-source bug trackers, and chose Bugzilla? Really?

    1. Re:Bugzilla? Really? by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 2, Funny

      So, the rocket scientists looked at all of the available open-source bug trackers, and chose Bugzilla? Really?

      No matter which solution they choose, it certainly doesn't solve the common people related issues we see:
        - rejected, reason: space debris, this is out of scope
        - won't-fix, reason: no parts available
      I am sure there others.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  3. Re:PHLEGM already taken... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... which has the implications that polish astronauts will be allowed to fly in the Space Shuttle, while the Finns have to stay home?

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  4. Re:Hopefully this is only the beginning. by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can only hope when somebody files a bug for something like say, "shuttle fires unreliably under ice conditions" nobody closes the bug and sets the status to "WORKS4ME".

  5. Re:Hopefully this is only the beginning. by EpsCylonB · · Score: 4, Funny

    I love free software but I don't think volunteer developers in an anarchist programming environment have a place in the development of a $2 billion system at the absolute pinnacle of aerospace design complexity.

    Yeah but it will fine for the space shuttle. [ducks]

  6. Re:Why not publish the source online? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I could use that bug tracker. My space shuttles keep exploding on me, and NASA support is really shitty.