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Even more offtopic: I would be interested in how it's handled in general. So for long-running projects (10-15years)...do they redo outdated parts? Wait until th

Even more offtopic: I would be interested in how it's handled in general. So for long-running projects (10-15years)...do they redo outdated parts? Wait until the last minute and don't plan "obviously useless" parts in advance? For example big construction projects that are in a limbo for some years, have they already detailed plans entirely on outdated equipment (from security to elevators) or just kept em blank? There's a big construction project near me where the architect was chosen 20 yers ago and now the costs explode, i was thinking whether this is a cause (outdated plans because one didn't follow through immediately).

kelchm 4y ago
Tangential (and not my area of expertise), but I do know that the Ingenuity helicopter uses an off-the-shelf Snapdragon 801 SoC. As I understand it that is very unusual for any projects like this, let alone something like the JWST. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)#Design https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)#Design
- Brian_K_White 4y ago
  It has always been a specific goal of the Mars rovers since the very first one, to use a faster/cheaper design and production process than traditional Nasa projects. In essense, using more off the shelf parts for the Mars rovers is part of the science experiment.
  - dandelany 4y ago
    This was true of the first rover (Pathfinder ‘97) but really hasn’t been true of rovers since then. Ingenuity was an exception re: COTS parts since it was experimental. Pathfinder cost <$300M. “Better cheaper faster” became Discovery class missions, “capped” at $500M. Curiosity and Perseverance cost about $2.5B each. Not in the same category.
mch82 4y ago
NASA has teams of engineers focused on supply chain and reliability. Supply Chain Risk Management, https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/supply-chain-risk-management https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/supply-chain-risk-manag... “NASA’s Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) program ensures that the systems within NASA’s spaceflight programs and projects perform as required throughout their life cycles to satisfy mission objectives.” https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/reliability-and-maintainability https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/reliability-and-maintai...

kelchm 4y ago

Tangential (and not my area of expertise), but I do know that the Ingenuity helicopter uses an off-the-shelf Snapdragon 801 SoC. As I understand it that is very unusual for any projects like this, let alone something like the JWST. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)#Design https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)#Design

Brian_K_White 4y ago
It has always been a specific goal of the Mars rovers since the very first one, to use a faster/cheaper design and production process than traditional Nasa projects. In essense, using more off the shelf parts for the Mars rovers is part of the science experiment.
- dandelany 4y ago
  This was true of the first rover (Pathfinder ‘97) but really hasn’t been true of rovers since then. Ingenuity was an exception re: COTS parts since it was experimental. Pathfinder cost <$300M. “Better cheaper faster” became Discovery class missions, “capped” at $500M. Curiosity and Perseverance cost about $2.5B each. Not in the same category.

mch82 4y ago

NASA has teams of engineers focused on supply chain and reliability. Supply Chain Risk Management, https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/supply-chain-risk-management https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/supply-chain-risk-manag... “NASA’s Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) program ensures that the systems within NASA’s spaceflight programs and projects perform as required throughout their life cycles to satisfy mission objectives.” https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/reliability-and-maintainability https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/reliability-and-maintai...