3 ms·
Have you compared the price of consumer and space-grade hardware ? Probably not, otherwise you would realise it wasn't cost-optimized. example: https://en.wik
by antoinealb 11y ago
Have you compared the price of consumer and space-grade hardware ? Probably not, otherwise you would realise it wasn't cost-optimized.
example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAD750 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAD750
200'000 USD for a 200Mhz PowerPC isn't exactly the best bang-for-the buck, even in 2001.
- kuschku 11y agoThanks to trade treaties, ESA always has to use the cheapest available hardware that fulfils the requirements – no matter if other hardware is more reliable. This has been part of many discussions before – and it doesn’t just affect ESA. From government agencies which have to buy pencils that break after every use and are practically useless, to contractors building Autobahnen where the asphalt melts in the summer sun away.
- EdHominem 11y agoIf the requirements don't have enough safety margin built in then that's an issue, but if the safety margins are being met then what's the problem? If you're receiving pencils that break, specify pencils that don't... If the asphalt melts, spec a different mix.
- kuschku 11y ago> specify pencils that don't... If the asphalt melts, spec a different mix. And then get a warning from the WTO for unfair practices. Contracts can’t that specific in most places, sadly.
- EdHominem 11y agoI've seen a process like this that forbids naming brands, etc, but you've always been able to spec standards and performance tests.
- hueving 11y agoYou're bringing up a non issue. Add reliability constraints into your requirements. Airplane components are also made of the cheapest materials that satisfy the constraints required by the engineers and they don't randomly fall apart.