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NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

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Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#271

Post by tyingq »

From a NASA post 2 days ago[1]:

"The operations team is investigating whether the Standard Interface (STINT) hardware, which bridges communications between the computer’s Central Processing Module (CPM) and other components, or the CPM itself is responsible for the issue. The team is currently designing tests that will be run in the next few days to attempt to further isolate the problem and identify a potential solution."

So "can't figure out" sounds more like "haven't yet figured out", but they have remaining ideas to play through.

[1] https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/operations-underwa...

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#272

Post by jacobwilliamroy »

rajandatta wrote: post #253

Anyone else look at the headline and feel this is one of the dumbest headlines ever. It makes it sound like NASA's incompetent. 'Why haven't you fixed Hubble yet?'. There doesn't seem to be any nuance or respect that they're trying to repair an orbiting telescope that was launched 30 years ago and designed 40 years ago - and that people are patiently trying to sort through a fully autonomous system 400 miles above th…

I think you may be projecting some self esteem issues here.

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#273

Post by beerandt »

jbuhbjlnjbn wrote: post #260
pc86 wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's arguably even worse than just commenting "This." At least that is small enough you can scan over it and barely even register its existence. But this fedora-tipping "Thank you kind sir this is the type of Internet Content I enjoy!" doesn't even afford you that luxury.

I really dislike the downvote function because it reinforces self-censoring. And I completely loathe the implementation of it, you need xxxx upvotes to downvote posts....I have no words. Well, in opposing it I especially read the faded comments and upvote any of those that are not completely abhorrent. Take that, ycombinator.

>I especially read the faded comments and upvote

This seems to happen a lot more frequently here than anywhere else.

I'm not really sure what that says, other than people still read comments that are faded. Also that people shouldn't worry about self-censoring.

I don't have a problem with downvotes or the karma needed to do it, but

I do sometimes wish it were possible to reply to a dead comment, especially if you vouch for it and it's still dead.

Sometimes they're worth defending, or is relevant in a non-obvious way, and sometimes the comment itself is discussion worthy, as it relates to the topic, even if it's wrong or seems trollish.

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#274

Post by geoduck14 »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #266
davesque wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I hear you on that. Another possibility is that NPR is trying to manufacture a sense of mystery or surprise as journalists often do with science stories. A bit less nefarious but also sort of annoying in its own way.

It's more than annoying. It comes part and parcel with the dumbing down of society.

Most of my work could benefit from a journalist

> Overworked Engineer misses semicolon. All night review session finds it, data gets loaded!

> Management insists Jira stories be routed to new Epic. Team Lead spends hours learning Jira API before giving up and doing it "the hard way"

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#276

Post by Teever »

gentleman11 wrote: post #202
NeutronStar wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did that comment actually bring to the conversation?

Occasionally, very occasionally, it’s nice to read somebody just expressing enthusiasm instead of just posting a clever counter argument. It’s like a spice that you only want a little of but that’s still nice

"this"

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#277

Post by geoduck14 »

qzw wrote: post #7

pushes up glasses I would watch the heck out of a Twitch stream of their debugging/brainstorming sessions. I always loved the movie Apollo 13 , especially the technical troubleshooting parts.

Me, earlier this week:

Did that work... no. Well, what about... THIS... still no. 3 hours later... clear the cache?!? Aww crap

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#278

Post by ArcticCelt »

qzw wrote: post #7

pushes up glasses I would watch the heck out of a Twitch stream of their debugging/brainstorming sessions. I always loved the movie Apollo 13 , especially the technical troubleshooting parts.

This youtube series of video, follow a group that restored an Apollo Guidance Computer that a collector basically pulled from the trash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSahAoOLdU&list=PL-_93BVApb...

My favorite part is when they needed the version of the software that was used for the moon landing but they only had the source code for a previous version (scanned from giant binder) and the hash value of the version of the landing. By a series of educated guesses, by reading memos and by analysis of the source code they modified the old code the exact way so it gave them the correct hash, confirming that they correctly and exactly recreated the original code.

It's being a while and I go from memory, I might have some details wrong. See this video for this story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JTa1RQxU04

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#279

Post by jasonwatkinspdx »

jandrese wrote: post #92
recov wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting thought. I would say something like the hubble transcends politcal/governmental boundaries... although I do wonder how much if its software is used in other secretive satellites.

Hubble is basically a repurposed spy satellite so it may still be sensitive. Although I doubt any of its sisters are still flying.

No one knows for sure publicly, but NRO offered two more KeyHole bodies to NASA some years back. That's may be a hint they're considered obsolete.

Re: NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope

#280

Post by Dylan16807 »

gentleman11 wrote: post #202
NeutronStar wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did that comment actually bring to the conversation?

Occasionally, very occasionally, it’s nice to read somebody just expressing enthusiasm instead of just posting a clever counter argument. It’s like a spice that you only want a little of but that’s still nice

Does that spice go bad if it turns gray?
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