General Discussion

padruig

(134 posts)

30. they recycle too !

Mon Aug 6, 2012, 05:58 PM

Aug 2012

I was listening to an interview of the Lead Engineer for EDL (Entry, Descent and Landing) - he explained how they were using the same algorithms used during the Apollo and Shuttle programs to guide the vehicle through the upper atmosphere during the Entry and Descent phase.

The guidance algorithms were updated for air density and other quantitative factors.

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'Remember, Macs can’t do real work, they’re only for useless artsy stuff like landing on Mars.' [View all] onehandle Aug 2012 OP

Running Windoze. Mika Aug 2012 #1

Wrong. nt onehandle Aug 2012 #4

probably not, but even a Mac runs Windows better CreekDog Aug 2012 #58

I highly doubt the computers used to do the actual landing were running either operating system. phleshdef Aug 2012 #2

As we all know, that job would be impossible to do with PCs. 2ndAmForComputers Aug 2012 #3

I would be willing to bet that the computers actually running things are neither Mac nor PC CBGLuthier Aug 2012 #5

Most likely super computers running on a variety of UNIX/Linux os -- n/t mazzarro Aug 2012 #16

Most do not realize that OS X is Berkley UNIX.. NEXT computer took the UNIX and made a desktop LiberalArkie Aug 2012 #21

Rovers run a variant of BSD UNIX formercia Aug 2012 #61

Here on earth that may be true, but obxhead Aug 2012 #26

spending twice as much taxpayer money for something not worth 2x as much lol nt msongs Aug 2012 #6

viruses on Macs are almost non existent Whisp Aug 2012 #9

I have a Mac, but that claim has been disproved. n/t RebelOne Aug 2012 #13

I think I've had 2, maybe 3 viruses in about 15 years Whisp Aug 2012 #18

i've had probably the same amount of viruses over the same time period.. frylock Aug 2012 #29

I've had about as much on my PC Angleae Aug 2012 #47

I've had no viruses in 15 years or so with windows. it just takes some common sense Tunkamerica Aug 2012 #53

The last Mac Virus I had ruined a floppy back in 1992. The last Win/Unix virus i had took out 500gb slampoet Aug 2012 #37

Yeah, but it's not for the reason you think TlalocW Aug 2012 #15

People don't write Mac viruses because you can't write FUN Mac viruses jmowreader Aug 2012 #45

I choose... TlalocW Aug 2012 #64

They are no more immune than linux, yet linux costs zero. n/t lumberjack_jeff Aug 2012 #19

Not true even slightly! Macs are just as vulnerable as the next PC. Initech Aug 2012 #35

guess Microsoft is behind that misinformation Whisp Aug 2012 #36

your anecdotal evidence has convinced the world that macs are impervious to harm. Tunkamerica Aug 2012 #54

not impervious, just much less likely Whisp Aug 2012 #62

Thank You. Sat there last night watching on my MacBook Pro dballance Aug 2012 #7

I have had 3 PCs, but became a convert to Mac RebelOne Aug 2012 #14

YEA, I am on my second one, gave my 2009 model to my nephew. LiberalArkie Aug 2012 #22

Overpriced limited use toys. liberal N proud Aug 2012 #8

You forgot that sarcasm thingy. GoneOffShore Aug 2012 #11

They are overpriced liberal N proud Aug 2012 #17

Yep sure can. But for that price comes engineering in the USA, development work in the USA LiberalArkie Aug 2012 #23

Not all Apple engineering is done in the US... tinrobot Aug 2012 #41

I can by 2 or 3 PC for the price of an apple. AlbertCat Aug 2012 #33

And for really serious stuff, like shooting a ton of metal at another planet and landing it in Egalitarian Thug Aug 2012 #52

I replaced the screen/display on my Inspiron for a little over a hundred dollars, I have heard 2on2u Aug 2012 #57

Still using the 'tangerine' and 'grape' in my ChazII Aug 2012 #25

Probably donated. Curtland1015 Aug 2012 #10

If I remember correctly... originalpckelly Aug 2012 #12

So these guys do something fucking brilliant SomethingFishy Aug 2012 #20

Hey, I have a Mac too... originalpckelly Aug 2012 #24

They boosted it. onehandle Aug 2012 #27

I guess you'll try a "Yo Mama" joke next? Pholus Aug 2012 #60

and so are strawmen frylock Aug 2012 #28

they recycle too ! padruig Aug 2012 #30

Yay for corporate brand loyalty! 99Forever Aug 2012 #31

At a quick tally, I'd guess that those Macs equal about 83% of NASA's annual operating budget Orrex Aug 2012 #32

Unix Sgent Aug 2012 #34

OR kentauros Aug 2012 #38

Glorified monitors, indeed. joshcryer Aug 2012 #44

I guess *that's* my problem. Pholus Aug 2012 #59

I'm a huge GIMP fan so I noticed they were using GIMP immediately. joshcryer Aug 2012 #67

I figured that panorama work is where GIMP would shine... Pholus Aug 2012 #70

FITS stands for Flexible Image Transport System Fumesucker Aug 2012 #63

Erm, not sure how "Photoshop Plugin" equates "FITS = image processing program." joshcryer Aug 2012 #66

Fun story about computers in science... D23MIURG23 Aug 2012 #39

Hey, I just like all the photos of the nerds at work. calimary Aug 2012 #40

I'm pretty sure that's not operations and those are just their personal computers. joshcryer Aug 2012 #42

So Somebody Had To Introduce Acrimony Into A Moment Of Harmony By Bringing MAC v. PC Into It... WillyT Aug 2012 #43

You don't really believe that Mac OS(whatever) is used on any of the systems that Egalitarian Thug Aug 2012 #46

No, but I see lots of rocket scientists buy macs. Bonobo Aug 2012 #48

The same thing can be said about the Democratic Party and for the same reason. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2012 #51

my brother is a rocket scientist and has a pc desktop an ipad for fun stuff. Tunkamerica Aug 2012 #55

I think his wife has a mac laptop Tunkamerica Aug 2012 #56

I wish I had a Mac canEHdian Aug 2012 #49

If and when you get a Mac, get a Mac Mini. RebelOne Aug 2012 #69

Of course! "Macs" is "Mars" spelled with a "c" instead of an "r"!! KansDem Aug 2012 #50

The screenie you show is of either a web browser or a PDF viewer. Any phone could do that. nt Romulox Aug 2012 #65

They are just tools, people. The real work... yawnmaster Aug 2012 #68

Academic discounts... hunter Aug 2012 #71