Mars Phoenix Lander's Ovens Were Destined To Fail 77
RobertB-DC writes "The Phoenix mission to Mars' frigid polar regions was going to be tricky from the start, with only a few weeks to perform as much science as possible. Success depended on everything working right. But one of the mission's most frustrating glitches — the stuck doors on the TEGA ovens — could have been prevented with basic quality control on Earth. Nature is reporting that bad brackets were replaced by the manufacturer ... with identically bad brackets. The Planetary Society blog sums it up succinctly: 'Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch.'"
Without reading the article... (Score:3, Interesting)
...isn't this what happens when you gotta have it yesterday?
Amazing (Score:3, Interesting)
``Nature is reporting that bad brackets were replaced by the manufacturer... with identically bad brackets.''
Isn't that just purely amazing? A manufacturer who _knows_ the component is bad (because it needs replacement), and then replaces it with ... the same thing with the same faults. That's just unethical. I hope they are suitably punished.
Also, you would have thought that, after sending a component back for replacement, the replacement would be tested to see if the problem had been fixed.
I just don't have words anymore.
Re:Human Mars mission (Score:2, Interesting)
Just run an ad in the paper saying something like this
"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."
Evidence suggests you'll get more volunteers than you can use.