NASA Fixes Outlook Glitch for Artemis II Mission
▼ Summary
– During the Artemis II mission, commander Reid Wiseman experienced a technical issue where Microsoft Outlook failed to work on his device.
– NASA’s flight director stated the Outlook problem was not uncommon and was fixed by remotely reloading files on his Surface Pro.
– NASA maintains contact with the spacecraft using a combination of its Near Space and Deep Space communication networks.
– The crew’s equipment includes Nikon and GoPro cameras for filming a documentary, in addition to their personal computing devices.
– The astronauts were permitted to bring their personal phones on the mission, as seen stowed in their spacesuit pockets.
Even astronauts on a historic lunar mission can encounter the same mundane tech frustrations we face on Earth. During the Artemis II flight this week, Commander Reid Wiseman experienced a familiar problem when his email client failed to function properly. He reported the issue to Mission Control, noting he had two instances of Microsoft Outlook open and neither was operational.
The troubleshooting process required ground controllers to remotely access Wiseman’s onboard personal computing device, a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet. Artemis flight director Judd Frieling explained during a subsequent press briefing that such software glitches are routine, even in space. He noted that configuring email applications can be particularly challenging without a direct network connection. The solution involved simply reloading the necessary files to restore Outlook’s functionality.
Maintaining a communications link with the distant spacecraft is a complex task handled by NASA’s global infrastructure. The mission relies on the integrated Near Space Network and Deep Space Network, which utilize a worldwide array of ground antennas and relay satellites. As the Orion capsule travels farther from Earth, Mission Control in Houston must seamlessly transition between these networks to maintain a continuous data and voice link.
The crew’s onboard technology extends beyond the workhorse Surface Pro. Their kit includes professional Nikon D5 DSLR cameras and handheld GoPro models, which will be used to capture footage for a documentary produced by Disney and National Geographic. A specialized ZCube video encoder handles the processing of this visual data. In a relatable human touch, the astronauts were also permitted to bring their personal smartphones aboard, with NASA’s livestream showing the devices securely stowed in their spacesuit pockets.
(Source: The Verge)
