The Space Flight Software '08 workshop

The Space Flight Software '08
workshop in Maryland was really nice. It was a great chance to meet
several folks I've worked with over the last few decades, mostly as
voices over the phone, and meet some folks new to me and the industry.
The theme of the workshop was to share lessons learned and ideas used
to make our missions more robust and reliable, more efficient, and
reduce cost where possible.   The idea is not only to test new
technologies and integrate successful ideas with existing work, but to
also maximize relevant data return on science objectives.

As
might be expected, there was a lot of chatter about space projects,
upcoming manned rocket development, recent discoveries in deep space,
and success of various recent and ongoing missions.  Congratulations to
the Phoenix Mars Polar Lander team, by the way, on the successful
completion of your mission!

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