Shuttle costs

NASA should then use open source software. And I am willing to
contribute code to them.

--- In spacesettlers@y..., Ian Woollard wrote:
> Ed Minchau wrote:
>
> > The largest single cost of any of NASA's launches has nothing to
do
> > with fuel or materials (although I agree with you Al, better
> > materials will drive launch costs down); fully half of the cost
of a
> > launch is...software.
>
> I find this very difficult to believe. Are you seriously telling me
> that NASA has spent tens of billions on Space Shuttle software?
>
> (ISS I can buy; that's a different matter, there's a lot
> of strange inter-related software/hardware on that one.)
>
> Do you have a cite or URL to back this one up by any chance?
>
> > Better, more reliable, _re-useable_ software is the key to
reducing
> > space launch costs to acceptable levels.
>
> Open source (GPL) rocketry software anyone?
>
> Or just launch a LOT. I mean software doesn't really cost anything
per
> copy does it?
>
> > :) ed
>
> --
> - Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@t...)
>
> "Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological