Re: Ariane5 FAQ

["Robert I. Eachus" <rieachus@attbi.com>]

Hyman Rosen wrote:

> So it seems to me that you would rather believe that project managers
> could be complete morons rather than believe that Ada programmers could
> fail to properly document their code. I know which I think is more likely,
> but feel free to believe as you like. It's a free country.

Both are possible.  But in this case, the (Ariane 4) Ada programmers not 
only documented their code correctly, they raised the issue of whether 
or not this was the correct behavior for this particular situation with 
their management, and the design engineers.

So was the final decision for the Ariane 4 correct?  I think so.  But to 
indicate that it wasn't carefully thought out, or documented, is specious.

As for the project managers on Ariane 5 being morons, I think that is 
also incorrect.  The key decision that doomed Ariane 501 was a political 
one.  (Not allowing the Ariane 4 SRI software designers access to the 
Ariane 5 requirements specs.)  So if you want to take away the idea that 
politicians do not make good system engineers, I can give you dozens of 
other, better examples.

-- 

                                                        Robert I. Eachus

�In an ally, considerations of house, clan, planet, race are 
insignificant beside two prime questions, which are: 1. Can he shoot? 2. 
Will he aim at your enemy?� -- from the Laiden novels by Sharon Lee and 
Steve Miller.