I asked my Magic 8-ball what the problem is and it says "Outlook not so good"
this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
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Phenomenal. They chose the buggiest operating system for a spacecraft. Amazing.
Why the fuck are public things that are tied to a budget always have to waste money on Microsoft software while they can just use Libre alternatives
If I understand it correctly, the ship's built-in systems run a Linux-based RTOS, the dumbfuckery is happening on an off the shelf Surface tablet.
They're still making Microsoft look like a million monkeys fucking a million footballs.
LMAO
To some readers, even choosing Outlook as a part of a spacecraft’s communications portfolio would seem to be an anomaly. However, it is a standard part of the "Commercial Off-The-Shelf" (COTS) software astronauts use for their day-to-day operations.
To be clear, the spacecraft and primary flight systems will run on specialized radiation-hardened hardware and rigorously maintained software. COTS just complements this with a friendly layer, like Windows and Outlook, so astronauts can check schedules, indulge in personal communications, and so on, in a familiar way.
Kinda wild that we have such an abundance of processing power and memory that even space missions can load up with bloated software for the sake of "friendly" user interfaces.
As someone who has used Outlook a lot in an enterprise environment, I would not have believed that literal NASA astronauts use it for even the smallest task. Not because it can't accomplish the task, but because of how slow, buggy, and unreliable it tends to be, even when properly managed by a capable IT team. They have been in space less than a day and they're already wasting time and energy troubleshooting
"friendly"? 🤣
They use WINDOWS on this thing ? Do yourself a favour and install either Linux or one of the BSDs...
Impossible: BSD nor Linux pay enough bribes
Well, that inspires confidence.
The Apollo 11 Guidance Computer had 4KB RAM and 72KB ROM, but the code was provably correct. How the mighty have fallen.
An astronaut's laptop running Windows is obviously not what's controlling the rocket.
Nah that's the xbone controller attached to it. /s
Two outlooks, neither work?
Glad everything is normal aboard Orion!
In space no one can hear you scream
two instances of Outlook
pst/ost corruption incoming.
Goddamn windows 98. Get Bill gates over here!
Wait until they start mapping the moon's far side using MS Paint. Tech support must stay on the line!
Outlook: redundant dysfunctionality
We use outlook st work.
It used to hsve switch "try new.." Now it switched to "use old.."
I opted old.
Mailto links open new outlook.
Shit's shit.
I have the outlook lite app on my phone. It simultaneously prompts me to move my other accounts over there, and to uninstall it because it's becoming deprecated soon.
Can you not change this in the "Default Apps" settings page in Windows?
Signed, A government employee currently resisting the very same migration
Ohh, yeah. I'll look into that.
They must be using my work laptop, sometimes it runs outlook or teams in multiples.
Ooh, did Mission Control tell them to turn the capsule off and then on again?
They're obviously holding it wrong.