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A comment on NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on the Hubble telescope. Parent comment

Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by trothamel on Thursday June 24, 2021 @12:02PM (#27619544)
If you want to see debugging a computer in space, check out Apollo 13's sequel, Apollo 14. The moon landing is being held up by shorted-out switch that's causing the LM to abort the landing, and it's up to the programmers back home to figure out how to work around it in time to allow the landing.

Apollo 13 was the story of a 'successful failure', while Apollo 14 shows how hard work and creative thinking can turn failure into success.

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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by cameldrv on Thursday June 24, 2021 @01:40PM (#27621181)
Don Eyles' book Sunburst and Luminary has a chapter on this, and Don was primarily responsible for the Apollo 14 workaround. The book is also generally just a fantastic account of what it was like to develop software for the Apollo Guidance Computer.
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by trothamel on Thursday June 24, 2021 @02:58PM (#27622300)
Also about living through the sexual revolution. It's a really interesting book, but as much of a memoir as a technical book.
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by geocrasher on Thursday June 24, 2021 @12:59PM (#27620468)
Scott Manley to the rescue: "The Computer Hack That Saved Apollo 14" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSSmNUl9Snw
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by NikolaNovak on Thursday June 24, 2021 @12:11PM (#27619669)
Is there actually an Apollo 14 movie? I can find Apollo 18 but not a Apollo 14 feature movie.

I saw this but it's a short documentary and may not be what you meant: https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-14-Complete-Downlink-Edition/d...

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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by cratermoon on Thursday June 24, 2021 @12:21PM (#27619823)
There's the HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon", which covers this with the Apollo 14 mission. Highly recommended.
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by NikolaNovak on Thursday June 24, 2021 @01:15PM (#27620764)
Ahh, yes; I've seen the series multiple times - agreed that it's great, especially for those who enjoyed Apollo 13. I wasn't sure if there was a different Apollo-14 movie OP/Trothamel was referring to...
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by trothamel on Thursday June 24, 2021 @02:57PM (#27622291)
No, or at least not that I know of. I was having a bit of fun by declaring Apollo 14 (the mission) the sequel to Apollo 13 (the mission).
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Re:NASA can't figure out what's causing computer issues on t... by bumby on Thursday June 24, 2021 @12:44PM (#27620166)
Was this the scenario where there was a false positive warning light but they had no way to test if it was truly a false alarm? I remember attending a talk by an Apollo engineer who convinced the control room that the switch design had a propensity to a short and it really came down to a probability-based judgement call
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