Re: [OT] Spirit - Software failure

[Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen)]

In article <wccznca1dfh.fsf@shell01.TheWorld.com>, Robert A Duff <bobduff@shell01.TheWorld.com> writes:
> fdebruin <fdebruin@xs4all.nl> writes:
> 
>> In addition, with testing you can proof the presence of errors, but you
>> cannot proof their absence.
> 
> With X, where X is any method whatsoever you can name, you can prove the
> presence of errors, but you cannot prove their absence.

Or if you don't try hard enough, you can't even prove the presence of errors.

        <<< EISNER::DRA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HOBBIES_AND_INTERESTS.NOTE;1 >>>
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Note 226.85                 NASA, Space Flight, etc.                 85 of 86
EISNER::SCOPELLITI                                18 lines  26-JAN-2004 21:45
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    Detailing the Spirit rover's problems.  From:
    http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/26/mars.rovers/index.html
    
    "Trosper said the problem appeared to be that the rover's flash memory
    couldn't handle the number of files it was storing. The jam-up, she
    said, apparently kept Spirit from shutting down properly and performing
    a number of functions that normally originated in its flash memory. 
    
    "Scientists are still analyzing the data, she said, but would begin
    deleting unnecessary files to test that theory.
    
    "She pointed out that the scientists had thoroughly tested the rover's
    systems on Earth, but that the longest trial for the file system was
    nine days, half of the 18 days Spirit operated before running into the
    problem."
    --------------------
    Perhaps this is the first time that a defrag actually fixes something?
    <GRIN>