i found almost offensive that they offer just 10k for such a task
Fortunately for you they're not forcing you to do it.
Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
21–30 of 65 posts
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#22So many trash comments on the site about how NASA should be "offering more money" or how this is a way for them to "save money" and it is all a scam. Seriously? Any decent hacker attempting this is probably doing it for props. The money is great and provides a good monetary incentive but when it comes down to it I'd wager people would do this for free. Hell a personal tour of NASA and maybe their name in the code mig…
I'd like to propose a different perspective into this.
In a respectable aerospace organization, a typical effort into such an optimization project would be in the order of 3 mid-to-senior staff, for a duration of 6 months. Consider a loaded rate of $200k/year (remember, overhead makes it much more expensive), and you'll be looking at about $300k for a single tentative. Let's suppose they probably tried no more than 3 to 5 approaches already, that's $1.5M of taxpayer's money they already put on that. And they still can't figure out a way to keep a good configuration of shadows on the longerons when they push it for a little more power.
If I came up with an optimal solution to this problem, I'd be miffed to be let go with $10k (or $30k as they seem to have updated) and a nicely worded letter. I would hope my carreer to be guaranteed✝ for a few years, instead of being thrown back on my own into the void.
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✝ No, the letter is not a guarantee of employment elsewhere. If anything, it might very well scare off "normal" employers from hiring a prospect.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#23So many trash comments on the site about how NASA should be "offering more money" or how this is a way for them to "save money" and it is all a scam. Seriously? Any decent hacker attempting this is probably doing it for props. The money is great and provides a good monetary incentive but when it comes down to it I'd wager people would do this for free. Hell a personal tour of NASA and maybe their name in the code mig…
It also sounds like something you could publish as a paper.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#24So many trash comments on the site about how NASA should be "offering more money" or how this is a way for them to "save money" and it is all a scam. Seriously? Any decent hacker attempting this is probably doing it for props. The money is great and provides a good monetary incentive but when it comes down to it I'd wager people would do this for free. Hell a personal tour of NASA and maybe their name in the code mig…
I'd like to propose a different perspective into this. In a respectable aerospace organization, a typical effort into such an optimization project would be in the order of 3 mid-to-senior staff, for a duration of 6 months. Consider a loaded rate of $200k/year (remember, overhead makes it much more expensive), and you'll be looking at about $300k for a single tentative. Let's suppose they probably tried no more than 3…
> If I came up with an optimal solution to this problem, I'd be miffed to be let go with $10k (or $30k as they seem to have updated) and a nicely worded letter.
You would have known in advance that that's the prize. If you would be miffed to get the prize, you shouldn't enter this particular contest.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd like to propose a different perspective into this. In a respectable aerospace organization, a typical effort into such an optimization project would be in the order of 3 mid-to-senior staff, for a duration of 6 months. Consider a loaded rate of $200k/year (remember, overhead makes it much more expensive), and you'll be looking at about $300k for a single tentative. Let's suppose they probably tried no more than 3…
> If I came up with an optimal solution to this problem, I'd be miffed to be let go with $10k (or $30k as they seem to have updated) and a nicely worded letter. You would have known in advance that that's the prize. If you would be miffed to get the prize, you shouldn't enter this particular contest.
Stating an opinion, not looking to debate logistics. Feel free to share the opinion or not.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#26i found almost offensive that they offer just 10k for such a task
Truth. I don't even get out of bed for less than 10k.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#27Don't forget Jonathan James was convicted at 16 for copying the space station source code from DoD computers. He later killed himself.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#28So many trash comments on the site about how NASA should be "offering more money" or how this is a way for them to "save money" and it is all a scam. Seriously? Any decent hacker attempting this is probably doing it for props. The money is great and provides a good monetary incentive but when it comes down to it I'd wager people would do this for free. Hell a personal tour of NASA and maybe their name in the code mig…
Agree, most hackers with interest in space, science, etc would dedicate a considerable amount of time and do it for free. 10k is 10k and its really not a game changer amount. Its the fun, the problems significance and bragging rights!
Indeed! Ultimate feather in your bow!
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#29If this is legit, then this is incredibly cool. Having your code run in space is as close as many of us will come to being in space ourselves. Sure, 10K is small given that it's the ISS, but let's be honest, the money is the secondary prize. This is for bragging rights.
>Sure, 10K is small given that it's the ISS slightly unrelated but fun fact: the ISS is the most expensive thing ever built[1](sorry for the silly source, couldn't find the original list). [1]( http://www.filmitown.com/forums/general-chit-chat/37819-top-... )
It seems a bit absurd that the Panama canal isn't on that list given that it cost around $15 billion in present day dollars. And that's with 25,000+ people dying in the process. I can only imagine what the cost would have been if they had take the precautions necessary to prevent most of those deaths.
Re: Write code, fix the space station, win $10,000
#30In practice this is an interesting problem for ISS. Considering the varying contingent of shadow-casting (and reflecting!) payloads, orbital replacement units, visiting vehicles and robotic elements the station's geometry is constantly changing. Then we have to consider system and lifespan effects. Solar array orientation alters the corresponding equilibrium attitude of the station and thereby the need for gyro and thrust stabilization. Along with problems we've had with overuse of the solar array rotary joints, there is a lot to consider after and optimal array orientation is found. Space is expensive.