Genesis probe crash linked to... upside-down sensor

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-10-16 03:45am

Sensors to detect deceleration on NASA's Genesis space capsule were installed correctly but had been designed upside down, resulting in the failure to deploy the capsule’s parachutes. The design flaw is the prime suspect for why the capsule, carrying precious solar wind ions, crashed in Utah on 8 September, according to a NASA investigation board.

Murphy's original law stated “If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."

It's rather ironic that the sensors were designed upside-down and installed that way, almost like a direct application of Murphy's Law...

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-10-16 04:14am

Relevant Article

Mopeyennuui · Post by **Mopeyennuui** » 2004-10-16 05:01am

ZING!

So NASA, how's Professor Farnsworth these days? Still 117?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-10-16 06:32am

And after countless reviews of it before launch, no one noticed?

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-10-16 07:13am

Ace Pace wrote:And after countless reviews of it before launch, no one noticed?

It's always the silly little things you miss....

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-10-16 07:31am

NASA needs to run these multimillion dollar projects past a panel of pimply members of the local high school Robotics Club before they launch them.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-10-16 10:49am

HemlockGrey wrote:NASA needs to run these multimillion dollar projects past a panel of pimply members of the local high school Robotics Club before they launch them.

So you plan to launch those sattalites made of paper and sticks?

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-10-16 12:22pm

The words of Robin Williams come to mind once again...

(on the subject of the Mars Lander) I did the calculations in feet, but I programmed the Lander in meters. Oops! So instead of landing, the fucker buried! $185 million whoopsie! Two years -- SPLAT!

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-10-17 02:23am

Sharp-kun wrote:
Ace Pace wrote:And after countless reviews of it before launch, no one noticed?
It's always the silly little things you miss....

Reminds me of the Mars mission that failed because mission controll confused metric and imperial units...

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-10-17 02:31am

The Shadow wrote:Reminds me of the Mars mission that failed because mission controll confused metric and imperial units...

Was that the Mars Climate Orbiter?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-10-17 02:45am

Ma Deuce wrote:
The Shadow wrote:Reminds me of the Mars mission that failed because mission controll confused metric and imperial units...
Was that the Mars Climate Orbiter?

No. The Mars Climate Orbiter was lost in http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/past/ ... .html]1999

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-10-17 02:45am

The mission I meant was this One

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-10-17 07:45am

We should just give all government funding for NASA to the Russians, or better yet, subsidies to private companies. God, the history of NASA has been the most perfect disgrace in the history of this country from the moment the Apollo programme was cancelled, and it will never improve.