Astronauts floating in area utilizing what appears to be like like “outdated tech” would possibly sound weird at first. However because it seems, there’s a really sensible motive behind it. And no, it’s not as a result of NASA is caught previously. A current clarification from NASA spaceflight professional Jason Hutt sheds mild on why missions like Artemis nonetheless depend on getting older {hardware}, together with older Home windows tablets.
Why NASA nonetheless makes use of “outdated” tech in area
Based on Hutt, all of it comes all the way down to testing, value, and reliability. Area {hardware} isn’t one thing you possibly can simply swap out yearly like a smartphone. Each single element has to undergo in depth certification and testing, which takes years and prices a fortune. So as soon as a tool is accepted, NASA sticks with it.
By utilizing a tool ISS was utilizing, we’d get monetary savings on certifying the {hardware}. Every bit of kit flown has to undergo a collection of testing. That testing takes money and time. The operations software program on the pill was developed in Home windows for ISS, so we wanted a home windows pill.
— Jason Hutt (@jthutt.bsky.social) 2026-04-02T17:17:24.791Z
In reality, for missions like Artemis, NASA deliberately selected units that had been already used on the Worldwide Area Station. This prevented the necessity to re-certify new {hardware}, saving each money and time. The software program was additionally already constructed for that particular platform, making it the most secure and most sensible alternative.
There’s additionally the timeline downside. Missions are deliberate years upfront, which means the “newest” tech on the time of launch is commonly already outdated by the point astronauts really fly. However that’s a trade-off NASA is prepared to make, as a result of reliability issues excess of cutting-edge efficiency.
It’s a deliberate resolution
Zoom out a bit, and this strategy is definitely commonplace throughout area missions. NASA usually prefers older, well-tested parts as a result of they’re confirmed to work in excessive environments like radiation-heavy area. Newer tech may be sooner, but it surely’s additionally riskier and fewer predictable.
Ethan Miller / Getty Photos
There are additionally sensible limitations. Deep-space missions don’t have dependable web as we do on Earth, so software program can’t rely on fixed connectivity. Add bandwidth constraints and knowledge limits into the combination, and instantly, trendy, cloud-heavy methods cease making sense altogether. In different phrases, area isn’t the place to experiment with the newest devices. It’s the place you are taking the stuff that’s been examined, confirmed, and trusted.
