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The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

nytimes.com

51–60 of 94 posts

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#52
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering that there's little time left, your payload (and business model) has severe constraints. Unless you have something pre-developed and nearly ready to launch (e.g. at a university), aim for something simple. That leaves you mostly with media attention (sponsors), technology demos (e.g. for third parties), paraphernalia/vanity items that wealthy individuals or communities pay for (no remains or religious art…

Sorry if I wasn't clear but I don't have anywhere close to that kind of money to place something anywhere near the moon. I was just being curious as to who would.

I mean, it depends on your definition of "near". For some of them, you just need a long enough ladder.

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#53
Since there seem to be some people from the industry around, I’d like to ask: how are we doing with writing software for such safety-critical systems? Do we still use C and try to have it statically verified by various tools? Write the software multiple times and have instances of the functionally same systems running in parallel, Andy see if they agree on which action should be taken? Can dependent and/or linear types help?

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#54

Just in time for the falcon heavy. The first rocket i can remember where I can go to website and pay for a lunar transfer

Space Adventures have been advertising a lunar mission for a decade or so on Soyuz, they just needed two people willing to split the cost. http://www.spaceadventures.com/experiences/circumlunar-missi...

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#55
post #53

Since there seem to be some people from the industry around, I’d like to ask: how are we doing with writing software for such safety-critical systems? Do we still use C and try to have it statically verified by various tools? Write the software multiple times and have instances of the functionally same systems running in parallel, Andy see if they agree on which action should be taken? Can dependent and/or linear typ…

I'm not sure for space, for aircraft it's usually C or Ada and lot's of testing. Sometimes Scada. I have not seen static analysis applied. You could use any language of your choosing but you then would need to demonstrate test coverage on the generated machine code, which you could avoid maybe by using a certified C compiler. I would expect space applications to have less stringent requirements, unless human lifes are involved.

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#56
post #55
post #53

Since there seem to be some people from the industry around, I’d like to ask: how are we doing with writing software for such safety-critical systems? Do we still use C and try to have it statically verified by various tools? Write the software multiple times and have instances of the functionally same systems running in parallel, Andy see if they agree on which action should be taken? Can dependent and/or linear typ…

I'm not sure for space, for aircraft it's usually C or Ada and lot's of testing. Sometimes Scada. I have not seen static analysis applied. You could use any language of your choosing but you then would need to demonstrate test coverage on the generated machine code, which you could avoid maybe by using a certified C compiler. I would expect space applications to have less stringent requirements, unless human lifes ar…

It seems unfortunate to have to run tests at all, all the more running them on the generated machine code. What about having to satisfy some real-time guarantees? Is this checked by tests as well?

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#57
post #53

Since there seem to be some people from the industry around, I’d like to ask: how are we doing with writing software for such safety-critical systems? Do we still use C and try to have it statically verified by various tools? Write the software multiple times and have instances of the functionally same systems running in parallel, Andy see if they agree on which action should be taken? Can dependent and/or linear typ…

I interviewed at SpaceX and asked them what they use to write code that runs in the rocket. It's all plain C and everything must be declared before hand - in other words, there are no dynamic allocations anywhere in the code.

Re: The Google Lunar X Prize’s Race to the Moon Is Over. Nobody Won

#60
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just curious (not a competitor :), what business model is there in placing micro-sats on the moon?

Not in the industry, but I'd guess in the short term there are two options: - scientific orgs (NASA, universities, etc); I get they'd love to pay for access to lunar surface. Maybe even some imaging from the dark side of the Moon? - prospecting companies like Deep Space Industries or Planetary Resources.

I know what people mean when they say "dark side of the moon" but it always bothers me. There is no "dark side" to the moon. The picture that got stuck in my head was seeing the moon transit the earth: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/08/21/4296866.ht...

Beautiful picture.

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