Mars Rover Problems - Update

NASA is now saying that the problem with the Spirit rover is due to the fact that it is “trying to keep track of too many files”. There are many lessons to be learned here. First, humans are no longer the only ones that suffer from this problem. Maybe if Spirit had been running WinFS it wouldn't have been so much of an issue. I'll need to ask Don Box if Indigo communications can be piped through the Deep Space Network. Anyways, the second lesson is simple: Regular maintenance of your computer is key. Defragment your hard drive once a week, and make regular backups, deleting files you no longer use on a regular basis. Whether it's a Martian rover or the family computer, taking these routine steps will ensure your system doesn't melt down at the most inopportune of times.

2 Comments

  • How can you even compare the two? Keeping your home machine up to date is nothing like managing a NASA robot that has traveled through space for 7 or so months to Mars. And you say WinFS would be a better solution? Are you kidding? How would you even know what NASA is using on their system? Call me nuts, but I think the scientists at NASA know what they are doing...

  • So Robert, maybe people can get enough "parody" and some facts or constructive speculation would be a nice change.

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