Yet again, a statement based on no knowledge of the real situation. MOST space failures are caused by exactly this kind of thing. A wrench left behind and falling and puncturing a tank. Incomplete testing of this or that and a SUPPOSITION that it was "Okay". Satellites not bolted down when everyone assumed it was and a $100,000,000 satellite falls to the floor. These space things are extremely complex and if every system had to be tested to perfection, none could afford them. The goal of a good trained space/spacecraft engineer is to design robust systems that have the really supercritical things testable and the rest, well, the rules for that are in the adjoining testing manual (the local religious book, for prayer).
Bob
sco@sco-inc.com wrote:
The failure of AO-40 was not a problem of "rocket science". It was caused by human stupidity ... not writing down what had to be removed before flight so if the only person who knew that info could not be available their backup would.
Les
At 12:25 PM 12/13/2007, you wrote:
Les,
Yes, they are aware of the fate of AO-40. They have had their own problems over the years and they understand that this is rocket science.
Rick W2GPS AMSAT LM2232