5 ms·

I don’t think the article mentions whether or not they can update the code remotely. Can they patch it? Edit: appears so: https://astronomynow.com/2021/04/11/n

• ArnoVW 5y ago
  OTA updates of the software are a hard requirement if your equipment is at 30 light minutes. Actually, I remember reading somewhere that more and more they use FPGA chips, allowing to even "change out the CPU" if needed. http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Microelectronics/The_use_of_reprogrammable_FPGAs_in_space http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Techno...
  • j4mie 5y ago
    Is it still called OTA if there isn't any air?
    • wereHamster 5y ago
      There is air for the fist and last few dozens of kilometers (at varying density)
    • samsari 5y ago
      Over the Aether?
      • hvidgaard 5y ago
        That isn't there either.
        • jk7tarYZAQNpTQa 5y ago
          "The modern concept of the vacuum of space, confirmed every day by experiment, is a relativistic ether. But we do not call it this because it is taboo." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_theories#Quantum_vacuum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_theories#Quantum_vacuum
          • hvidgaard 5y ago
            I am aware of the theory of quantum vacuum, but I generally take Aether to mean the old proposal as the medium light waves travel through. It has been refuted.
    • codeulike 5y ago
      I think it can justifiably have a grander name than OTA. Lets call it an "OPA" - Other Planet Update Or perhaps "USTLLTFMMA" (updating software thats literally like thirty fucking million miles away)
      • NAG3LT 5y ago
        As if Squats and Dusters would ever accept OPA
        • sunizzle 5y ago
          Underrated comment. #expanse
      • 8bitsrule 5y ago
        OPA Gangnam Style
    • Trufa 5y ago
      Air doesn't have a strict definition right?
    • TchoBeer 5y ago
      There's very clearly air, seeing as the helicopter is flying.
    • snypher 5y ago
      Over-the-antenna maybe, easier than a JTAG cable.
• ilogik 5y ago
  it's running linux. apt-get update :) (not sure what distro they're running)
  • nemoniac 5y ago
    It runs Fprime https://nasa.github.io/fprime/ https://nasa.github.io/fprime/
    • fnord77 5y ago
      they implemented their own message queue?
  • crashbunny 5y ago
    this jogged my memory of an episode of linux unplugged podcast many months ago. https://linuxunplugged.com/396 https://linuxunplugged.com/396 "Tim Canham, the Mars Helicopter Operations Lead, shares Linux’s origins at JPL and how it ended up running on multiple boxes on Mars. Plus the challenges Linux still faces before its ready for mission-critical space exploration." edit: just saw someone already mentioned the podcast in this thread
    • TchoBeer 5y ago
      >Plus the challenges Linux still faces before its ready for mission-critical space exploration Can I get a tl;dr on this
• imhoguy 5y ago
  I pray it won't go dead after software flashing like my new laptop with a recent BIOS update ;)
  • ethbr0 5y ago
    When you've got redundant memory, you can do a lot safer flashes. Sacrifice redundance, to maintain rollback capability, and flash one bank. Power on, test, and if test fails, restore to previous configuration.
  • jve 5y ago
    Don't throw your laptop out, yet. Flash it directly. Well, depends on the laptop/chip ofcourse, but do your research: https://youtu.be/Gdehz26lYWM?t=173 https://youtu.be/Gdehz26lYWM?t=173
• wazoox 5y ago
  They were patching the Voyager probes in-flight more than 40 years ago :)