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NASA Loses Contact With Space Station Over Software Update

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-didn't-know-they-used-itunes dept.

kodiaktau writes "Reports early Tuesday morning say that a software update to the International Space Station caused a communications blackout with Houston control. Remediation of the update has allowed the astronauts limited communication every 90 minutes or so. It is expected that the issue will be resolved today."

4 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Yep by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Every time the offshore admins want to apply an update, I ask them "what is your contingency plan should you brick the server?" and they always answer "Call the vendor". Sigh.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    1. Re:Yep by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's a different, and probably more appropriate definition of "offshore". That also sounds like a very good procedure. I would have added "we only upgrade firmware to solve specific problems and vulnerabilities appropriate to our environment, not just because it's 'the latest'". But I'm told I'm too conservative.

      Here, the admins are offshore (as in, physically on the other side of the world) but the machines are still local. They've rebadged former mainframe operators to be "hands and eyes" in case a button has to be pushed or a memory stick changed out. Of course, "hands and eyes" have had no hardware training whatsoever. I made some fuss recently when I caught one of them changing out a memory stick with the gator clip on their wrist strap dangling in the air. The response was to raise the issue as to why I still had access to the computer room? Geh.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  2. No one ever goes to the source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This has been fixed for over three hours.

    http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition34/e34_021913.html

    Is it really that hard to check with NASA?

  3. Re:I don't think they update on the fly they send by war4peace · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes. Have you heard of grammar?

    --
    ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)