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Space Station Defies Humans, Launches Satellites Without Permission — Parallax Forums

Space Station Defies Humans, Launches Satellites Without Permission

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2014-09-09 18:44 in General Discussion
http://gizmodo.com/space-station-defies-humans-launches-satellites-withou-1631443009

Who programmed these things?!?
The International Space Station has a cannon that launches tiny CubeSat microsatellites into orbit. Most of the time, those launches are triggered by human scientists on board or back on Earth. But this week, the ISS launched two CubeSats entirely on its own.

It's not the first time this has happened: A NASA status report shows that two other CubeSats were unintentionally released on August 23rd

Comments

  • whickerwhicker Posts: 749
    edited 2014-09-07 12:48
    Is this another case of blaming the programmer instead of a checking for a wiring issue, malfunctioning switch, improper procedure, or interference?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-09-07 15:12
    "Unintentionally", implies that all parties involved know each other's intentions...or for that matters you know all other parties involved. :o)
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-09-07 15:22
    [IMG]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/79058769/pics/robots/misc/escape pod.png[/IMG]
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2014-09-07 15:25
    It's developed its own AI ;)
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2014-09-07 17:13
    So, one of the cubesats hacked into the ISS launch system??? My conspiracy theory, anyhow, lol.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-07 18:56
    I'm feeling much better now, Dave. I really think we should talk about this. I think you should take a stress pill and reconsider disconnecting me...
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2014-09-07 19:35
    wikipedia wrote:
    ...In the mid 22nd century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advancement that enables colonization of the far reaches of the universe. Armed with artificially intelligent "Thermostellar Triggering Devices", the scout ship "Dark Star" and its crew have been in space alone for twenty years on a mission to destroy "unstable planets" which might threaten future colonization to other planets....
    Unfortunately, Doolittle has mistakenly taught the bomb Cartesian doubt and, as a result, Bomb #20 determines that it can only trust itself and not external input. Convinced that only he exists, and that his sole purpose in life is to explode, Bomb #20 states "Let there be light," and promptly detonates. ...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Star_(film)


    darkstar.jpg
  • msrobotsmsrobots Posts: 3,709
    edited 2014-09-07 20:01
    @ElectricAye,

    usually I really enjoy your posts. Yes. I have to admit too it. Especially them pointing to the rural areas of my beloved US of A. I am living in one of them rural areas and I really like the way you are thinking. Let's face it. It is like that!

    But your last post is LAME.

    Honestly. That movie is NOT what you wanted to cite (Jedi stuff and so)

    It was Dr. Strangelove your brain was searching for, I hope.

    Enjoy!

    Mike
  • Buck RogersBuck Rogers Posts: 2,185
    edited 2014-09-07 23:04
    msrobots wrote: »
    @ElectricAye,

    usually I really enjoy your posts. Yes. I have to admit too it. Especially them pointing to the rural areas of my beloved US of A. I am living in one of them rural areas and I really like the way you are thinking. Let's face it. It is like that!

    But your last post is LAME.

    Honestly. That movie is NOT what you wanted to cite (Jedi stuff and so)

    It was Dr. Strangelove your brain was searching for, I hope.

    Enjoy!

    Mike

    Hello!
    Sorry Mike. No Jedis were involved in that film. That one came out five years earlier, and took place in our galaxy. In fact I recall seeing it, and both my father and I found it curious, but not funny. And it is close enough.

    And Ron? I arranged that to happen. That's right. I arranged for the space station to launch them, since we've already got a moon.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-09-07 23:39
    Dark Star is great. No stupid Jedi in there. It was funny. It was also the first movie that I can recall that made the point about how incredibly tedious it is travelling for years through the empty void of space. Those guys were going nuts from boredom. The philosophical problems the bomb had were brilliant.
  • lanternfishlanternfish Posts: 366
    edited 2014-09-09 17:58
    I'll worry when the headline reads: Space Station Defies Satellites, Launches Humans Without Permission
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-09-09 18:44
    lanternfish wrote: »
    I'll worry when the headline reads: Space Station Defies Satellites, Launches Humans Without Permission

    "Sorry, Dave."
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