this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
454 points (97.5% liked)

Technology

83330 readers
3554 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 70 points 15 hours ago (4 children)

Why do they have any Microslop software?

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 7 points 9 hours ago

What the article fails to mention is that this is on Commander Wiseman's personal Surface Pro and not on any mission-related systems.

[–] riskable@programming.dev 43 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

My question exactly: The computers should be purpose-built, including the operating system.

Why TF aren't they using something like NASA Linux‽

If they made it open source you bet your ass they'd get shittons of free support from the global community! If they're running my software I'd be willing to hop on a call with the command center on any day at any hour!

"Yes, I know it's Christmas but NASA is having some trouble with a systemd script on a space ship that's currently in space..."

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

My question exactly: The computers should be purpose-built, including the operating system.

They are, mission critical systems are typically on a Unix/Linux base or completely custom built.

The systems that use Windows are the ones related to office work, like updating the crew's bank information and distributing pay.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 1 points 8 hours ago

Typically they're an rtos like vxworks.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 hours ago

Because a Microsoft sales rep bought a prostitute and cocaine for some senator.

[–] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 13 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Very likely that some degree of funding came from MS, usage of MS software is likely part of the contract.