Artemis II Astronauts Have 'Two Microsoft Outlooks' and Neither Work (404media.co)
- Reference: 0181209444
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/04/02/1641256/artemis-ii-astronauts-have-two-microsoft-outlooks-and-neither-work
- Source link: https://www.404media.co/artemis-2-astronauts-microsoft-outlook-livestream/
> On April 1, four astronauts from the U.S. and Canada embarked on a 10-day flight to loop around the moon. [3]Spotted by VGBees podcast host Niki Grayson on the NASA livestream of live views from the , around 2 a.m. ET, mission control acknowledges an issue with a process control system and offers to remote in -- yes, like how your office IT guy would pause his CoD campaign to log into Okta for you because you used the wrong password too many times.
>
> One of the astronauts, Reid Wiseman, says that's chill, but while they're in there: "I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of those are working." Astronauts are trained for decades in some of the most physically and mentally grueling environments of any career. They're some of the smartest people on the planet, and they have to be, before we strap them to 3.2 million pounds of jet fuel and make them do complex experiments and high-stakes decisions for days on end. And yet, once they get up there, fucking Outlook is borked.
[1] https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/04/01/2250202/nasa-launches-artemis-ii-astronauts-around-the-moon
[2] https://www.404media.co/artemis-2-astronauts-microsoft-outlook-livestream/
[3] https://bsky.app/profile/nikigrayson.com/post/3miik2wzosk25
Just another day at the office (Score:5, Funny)
We're trying to make sure that the astronauts feel comfortable in space and not out of sorts so we made it like just another day at the office.
Orion computers (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe Pine would be something more compatible with that hardware.
Re: Orion computers (Score:3)
I used to get real work done from mutt and alpine. Back when emails were mostly text and a small attachment or hypderlinks.
Yep, downhill since pine (Score:2)
I miss the days when you could see an HTML formatted email in pine and just delete it, knowing it must be something unimportant, probably spam.
Re: (Score:2)
In my case, those days are now.
Re: (Score:2)
> I used to get real work done from mutt and alpine. Back when emails were mostly text and a small attachment or hyperlinks.
I still, to this very day, use alpine as my one and only e-mail client. These days it reads HTML e-mails quite well, showing the text and turning things like images into [IMAGE] links and such. It's very similar to how lynx operates. 99.9% of the e-mails I receive I can read without issue, and without needing any graphics. Eeeeevery now and then I might encounter an e-mail I can't read (or is literally 100% image), but they're very rare.
It also handles Unicode just fine. Which is a double-edged sword
Re: (Score:2)
This brings back strong memories of standing in line for a terminal outside my dorm cafeteria to check email before getting lunch :)
Re: (Score:2)
Yep, me too. And if I really really really want to follow a link in the email it lets you launch a browser. The extra friction I think is handy as you carefully examine the link. And it has to be a very special case as if the sender did not say it in text, I'm probably not interested.
Coronalmassejectionbird Client (Score:2)
You don't need OWA in space. It doesn't matter if I'm the only one who believes this, for I believe it enough for the entire world.
Re: (Score:2)
> You don't need OWA in space. It doesn't matter if I'm the only one who believes this, for I believe it enough for the entire world.
In space, no one can hear you scream "NO fucking email!"
(I mean seriously, they're wired up more than The Truman Show. As if we need written emails when NASA likely has every other form of communication running/streaming/saving/recording.)
Re: (Score:2)
It makes the mission relatable to the general public. Kind of like the Mars rover Curiosity sending its own tweets.
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Quite frankly using OWA or ANY web based app in space would probably be a really stupid idea with the latency and intermittent connectivity. At least using real outlook or any other local mail client emails will be cached on the client side for when there is a lack of connectivity. Also saves on bandwidth only having to download it to the client once, rather than OWA having to retrieve the same email over and over each time it's accessed. Bandwidth on the deep space network is a limited resource that also h
they should thank their lucky stars (Score:3)
At least they don't have the shit web version.
Re: (Score:2)
> At least they don't have the shit web version.
I'd be willing to bet decent money that this will end up being the solution for them, since they can't exactly send an IT nerd in to fix their local clients. Imagine the latency on Office365 from where they are.
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Latency is what kills the Office365 license check.
Re: (Score:2)
> Latency is what kills the Office365 license check.
Be hysterical if all the big brains involved in this project hadn't thought of that one.
Re: (Score:2)
> Latency is what kills the Office365 license check.
Or Outlook's location check.
Worrisome (Score:4, Funny)
I'm more worried about contaminating the Moon with Microsoft than I am with a few of Earth's microbes.
Re: Worrisome (Score:2)
We'll have at least one billionare-built base on the Moon in our lifetime.
Re: (Score:2)
And I don't care if that billionaire is [1]D.D. Harriman [wikipedia.org] as long as it gets built.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Sold_the_Moon
That slop can't phone home. (Score:1)
and is why basing all software on a subscription is dumb.
And secuarity says their latency is too high (Score:2)
No way someone could have latency like that. Security issue, proxies probably. Seriously, the only way someone would have latency like that is if they were flying to the moon.
Do the federal mandates apply in space? (Score:2)
As anyone knows, IT technicians are federally mandated to request a reboot of the system before continued troubleshooting. Does this apply in space and what is Outlook running on anyway?
-m
new Outlook (Score:2)
Well, New Outlook doesn't work with the Gov cloud, so you can eliminate that one.
Time for people to throw money at Thunderbird... (Score:2)
IMHO, this is a good time to throw money at Thunderbird, so we have at least one Outlook alternative, next to Mail.app. Especially in the search arena where Thunderbird's searches have been at times, woefully inadequate. It would be nice if it could create an online index, have it encrypted to the master password, and use that.
Re: (Score:2)
Betterbird doesn't solve all of Thunderbird's problems, but it *does* act a little more sanely in many respects, and the search works a bit better on my machines.
New vs. Classic (Score:3)
Classic has the same bugs it always did, New is OWA in a browser app window and is missing features a lot of people care about.
Either one can have a wide selection of connection and authentication issues that are more or less unforgiveable but nobody seems to care because MS is really the only one who has the entire kitchen sink in their product reasonably well integrated.
It's also the last thing I'd have sent on this mission. I guess with modern communications it's nice to have an email client on your spacecraft, but with the lag you're not using Teams and you're not going to be attending any meetings. Do you really need all the extra crap?
I'd rather have them running older, more robust hardware with more efficient and more stable code on them than anything Microsoft provides.
Re: (Score:2)
Like it or not. Microsoft windows and their other products have been a part of NASA space flight forever now. What do you think all those laptops up on the space station are running for their day to day work? Same thing you or I use on our work laptops for our day to day work. Of course this is for their day to day productivity work. Life support systems on space craft are not running on windows. But likely specialized controllers or embedded Linux PCS.
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And all the new web app versions eats memory like a starved hog. 8GB isn't enough 640GB might be enough to solve your problems for this generation.
I hope it's New Outlook (Score:1)
This combined with the fact Microsoft wants to get away from PWA's, can Microsoft finally just return the business version of Outlook back to normal and stop using the "New Outlook."
Re: (Score:2)
> This combined with the fact Microsoft wants to get away from PWA's, can Microsoft finally just return the business version of Outlook back to normal and stop using the "New Outlook."
Prepare yourself and brace for New (New) New Outlook, The Next One!
Actual cause (Score:2)
Location tracking shows that they did not upgrade to Outlook Interplanetary, terminates service.
Don't Sweat it! (Score:2)
Microsoft products are broken by design! Microsoft builds consumer grade products. Broken! It is a feature!
Inside you... (Score:2)
Inside you there are two outlooks... ... no wait that's not how that expression goes
No surprise (Score:2)
Outlook breaks in ideal climate-controlled conditions with high-speed hard-line internet, handled by well-staffed IT departments, and provided to competent users. Any time I think I'm having a quiet day at work, it's really because the Outlook app on my phone has stopped refreshing and doesn't start working again until I restart the phone. Why would anyone consider trying it in space?
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> Outlook breaks in ideal climate-controlled conditions with high-speed hard-line internet, handled by well-staffed IT departments, and provided to competent users.
I'm calling bullshit. There's no such thing as a "well staffed IT department" in the same breath as "competent users". /sarcasm
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That IT department is today located in a low pay country and anyone that has worked there for more than 12 months is defined as Senior. Some of the people there are there just for a few weeks and don't know what icy roads are.
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Well, NASA apparently hates their astronauts so much they don't want them to return back to Earth alive.
My mind is going Dave :o (Score:4, Informative)
“First, you can be forgiven if you're surprised that the Orion spacecraft (which was carried to space by the Artemis II mission) uses [1]Microsoft 365 software [techradar.com].
However, NASA has been standardized on Microsoft's suite of software and services for years, using the platform across productivity, collaboration, and, yes, communication. The agency even uses Copilot, though it's not clear if the AI has had any part in this mission.”
NASA’s Portable Computer System (PCS) is essentially a fleet of space-qualified laptops used by astronauts .. Running Microsoft Windows .. chosen for reliability and durability :o
[1] https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/i-have-two-microsoft-outlooks-and-neither-one-is-working-artemis-ii-astronauts-have-the-most-relatable-complaint
Re: (Score:2)
Uh, Houston we have a bluescreen.
Surely they're on the LTSB (or whatever it's called in this quarter's Brand strategy).
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I used to think NASA was this cutting edge operation, but hearing they use Microsoft Windows kind of kills my option of them as a leader in technology. Decades ago I came to the option that Windows should never be used on a system you needed to depend on. Nothing I have seen from them since has changed that option. I really hope they don't use Microsoft software it comes to mission critical systems, and for those they use something robust. The idea that astronauts lives would depend something running Mic
Microsoft Support: (Score:5, Funny)
"Have you tried unplugging the space capsule and plugging it back in again?"
Re: (Score:3)
They tried that with Apollo 13. And.... that actually did work, sorta.
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I'd be terrified from the moment I was selected all the way until I was back on Earth, but I think I'd have trouble refusing the opportunity to be the on-site tech for a mission like this.
Give me a handful of space-rated USB flash drives with my favorite reference materials and utilities, a diaper and a barf bag, and I'm there. Maybe a large bottle of gravol and some stimulants to counteract the drowsiness. ...And I would never talk about the diaper or barf bag.
Microsoft leading the way (Score:2)
As always, Microsoft can't help but punch themselves in the dick, and it's been like this for decades. They have the option to provide services to leading agencies and they somewhat provide it because people who write these fucking contracts say Microsoft can be "accountable" but I've never seen any actual accountability. Has anyone in government actually recuperated some of the costs of dealing with Microsoft's bullshit?
Microsoft doesn't provide a good service. They don't deserve our tax dollars.
Re: (Score:2)
> As always, Microsoft can't help but punch themselves in the dick, and it's been like this for decades. They have the option to provide services to leading agencies and they somewhat provide it because people who write these fucking contracts say Microsoft can be "accountable" but I've never seen any actual accountability. Has anyone in government actually recuperated some of the costs of dealing with Microsoft's bullshit? Microsoft doesn't provide a good service. They don't deserve our tax dollars.
Have you seen any accountability in any of our government officials over the last four decades? Accountability is pretty much a void concept in our government. Why would they expect it from their vendors?
Lost emails in spaaaaaace ! (Score:3)
Maybe NASA's Micro$oft licence is geoblocked beyond LEO ?
Long Live PINE (Score:2)
'nuff said.
File it under: Why ever?!!! (Score:2)
How much did Microsoft pay for a bit of product placement--that bit them in the...
Hey Redmond... (Score:2)
are you listening?
Outlook? (Score:2)
Seems IT is amateur-hour even in space.
Re: (Score:2)
> Seems IT is amateur-hour even in space.
Look, they JUST finished their migration away from Lotus Notes...
Magic 8-ball says (Score:2)
Magic 8-ball says: Outlook not so good.
BTW⦠(Score:2)
â¦It is not jet fuel.
Probably set to the wrong time zone (Score:2)
Hard to keep it in sync while orbiting the Earth.
Outlook bug with pets on onedrive (Score:2)
Given they'd be effectively offline for the duration, it's conceivable they have the January patch still installed (if they are running back rev software) and have been bitten by the PST files on OneDrive bug introduced in January windows update. "Classic Outlook profiles with POP accounts and PSTs hang after Windows updates on January 13, 2026" [1]https://support.microsoft.com/... [microsoft.com]
[1] https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/classic-outlook-profiles-with-pop-accounts-and-psts-hang-after-windows-updates-on-january-13-2026-590fe356-ecc2-49f4-b9e3-bd39fafa58f6#:~:text=Classic%20Outlook%20profiles%20with%20POP%20accounts%20and%20PSTs%20hang%20after%20Windows%20updates%20on%20January%2013%2C%202026
Why Windows and Outlook? (Score:2)
They were probably given WIndows and Outlook because of cost cuts. This still baffles me, because Microsoft isn't exactly known for providing stable software and there's software readily available which is waaaay more stable than Windows and Outlook which also happens to be absolutely FREE and they could easily audit the source code.
What a step backwards (Score:2)
Remember 20 years ago when they were using ThinkPads running GNOME and living by Evolution's calendar red line?
Do they have python? (Score:2)
Can they code something up to retrieve email?
I mean having a way to code in space seems like a good idea. Like what if you need to calculate some shit?
NASA bought the worldwide licence... (Score:1)
..But they are no longer on this world. They needed to buy the more expensive galaxy-wide license, valid off planet.
WOW - There is a lot of Outlook hate here. (Score:1)
First - I am running Linux Pop OS Cosmic. About the only thing I miss from a Windows machine is Outlook. I think it is excellent email client.
Re: (Score:1)
I think it is an excellent email client. (Fixed)
Just wait for Artemis 13... (Score:2)
I can see it now. Instead of "Houston, we've had a problem." and Omega being awarded another Silver Snoopy; with the beast of redmond on board the ship, the mission transcript will read:
"This ship will self-destruct in 20 seconds. This is your last chance to push the cancellation button."
"Cancellation button? Hurry!"
"Where is it?! Where is it?!"
"It's gotta be here!"
"Out of order"?! Fuck! Even in the FUTURE, nothing works!"
Two more things - jet fuel - complex (Score:1)
before we strap them to 3.2 million pounds of jet fuel - sorry, no jet fuel involved. complex experiments and high-stakes decisions for days on end - too bad they do not have something like ground support with hundreds of also really smart people helping them.
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Doesn't matter, we don't need to understand what really happened to have a laugh and point fingers at Microsoft
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One "outlook" is NASA's and the other is their personal without attachment size restrictions :)
Problems with MS office is such a 2016 problem. Here in 2026 I am fighting Teams.
Just this morning selecting my username to log in did nothing....click ...click...click and when I finally got in after a reboot I had phantom unread messages I had to hunt for. They were 2 months old
Re: "Two Microsoft Outlooks" (Score:2)
This. We have SSO, and yet when I open Teams, it is Gettings things ready" for fscking ages. Only to eventually tell me I need to log in. Which I click and - surprise - I am already logged in.
But the worst thing is Tem's trying to do everything. You can message there, store files there, etc, etc. I don't want yet another "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" - sorry there's no English equivalent really, that's a very negative "Jack of all trades".
Re: (Score:2)
Proprietary software is written under unrealistic deadlines set by suits who want to cut costs in order to fatten their profit margins. It is natural that the resultant quality will be lower than that of open source solutions, most of which are written by industry veterans who have the time and the motivation to build them well.
Maybe NASA should think this through.
Re: (Score:2)
That sentiment doesn't come out of thin air though.
But hey, they're amongst the most influential entities on the planet. They can take jibes.
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The license servers can't be reached from space in a timely manner. So the license has expired when the package reaches the spacecraft.
Re: "Two Microsoft Outlooks" (Score:3)
PC LOAD LETTER
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I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Re:"Two Microsoft Outlooks" (Score:4, Insightful)
I think most people have at least two Microsoft Outlooks. A quick search of my start menu gives me:
Outlook
Outlook (new)
Plus a Microsoft Store suggestion to install Outlook for Windows, which seems to be a third Outlook.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't forget outlook.com, the webmail service, if you need more Outlooks.
Although I think the Microsoft Store Outlook is new Outlook, but I could be wrong.
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Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and Outlook; egg and Outlook; egg bacon and Outlook; egg bacon sausage and Outlook; Outlook bacon sausage and Outlook; Outlook egg Outlook Outlook bacon and Outlook; Outlook sausage Outlook Outlook bacon Outlook tomato and Outlook; Outlook egg sausage and Outlook, that's not got much Outlook in it.
Re: (Score:3)
There's also Outlook Web Access (OWA) that you use through a browser. All are borked in various ways, but the cherry on the cake is that most of them have some functionality that at least some of the others do not, especially if you are in an Exchange/Sharepoint/Teams environment where you may need to switch between different Outlooks depending on what you want to do.
Even allowing for the fact they wanted to rebuild "classic" in a more modern framework and shipped before it had anywhere near feature par
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Yes I'm still using the old Outlook but the "New" Outlook apparently has features I'd like to use, but I can't be bothered to adjust my muscle memory and learn a new UI.
However I just tried launching Outlook (new) and it directed me to stop using this and install the new Outlook app from the Microsoft Store, so there must be a newer new Outlook.
Re:"Two Microsoft Outlooks" (Score:4, Funny)
I have two Microsoft outlooks:
1) I hate them.
2) I fucking hate them.
Re: (Score:2)
I only have one Outlook, and it is very bleak.
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I expect it means there are two Outlook icons on the desktop.