2021 is the year of Linux on Mars

Stefan Mileschin · 23rd February 2021, 07:43

Perseverance, sometime it will be the year of the desktop on Earth

When NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars this week, it also brought the Linux operating system to the Red Planet.

NASA software engineer Tim Canham said the helicopter-like drone on board the Perseverance rover uses a Linux-powered software framework the space agency open-sourced a few years ago.

"This the first time we'll be flying Linux on Mars. We're actually running on a Linux operating system", Canham said.

It also might be the first time NASA has brought a Linux-based device to Mars. "There isn't a previous use of Linux that I'm aware of, definitely on the previous rovers", Canham said.

Mars rovers have used proprietary OSes, from Wind River Systems. The same is true for the Perseverance rover itself; the machine has been installed with Wind River's VxWorks, which was used on past Mars missions.

Linux is not the only off the shelf tech used in the rover. The helicopter-like drone Ingenuity "was built using off-the-shelf parts, including Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 processor, a smartphone chip".

https://fudzilla.com/news/52399-2021...-linux-on-mars

23rd February 2021, 07:43	#1
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 153,575	2021 is the year of Linux on Mars Perseverance, sometime it will be the year of the desktop on Earth When NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars this week, it also brought the Linux operating system to the Red Planet. NASA software engineer Tim Canham said the helicopter-like drone on board the Perseverance rover uses a Linux-powered software framework the space agency open-sourced a few years ago. "This the first time we'll be flying Linux on Mars. We're actually running on a Linux operating system", Canham said. It also might be the first time NASA has brought a Linux-based device to Mars. "There isn't a previous use of Linux that I'm aware of, definitely on the previous rovers", Canham said. Mars rovers have used proprietary OSes, from Wind River Systems. The same is true for the Perseverance rover itself; the machine has been installed with Wind River's VxWorks, which was used on past Mars missions. Linux is not the only off the shelf tech used in the rover. The helicopter-like drone Ingenuity "was built using off-the-shelf parts, including Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 processor, a smartphone chip". https://fudzilla.com/news/52399-2021...-linux-on-mars

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Microsoft Office 2021 is coming to Windows PCs and Macs later this year	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	19th February 2021 13:08
2021 could be a great year for 'alternative' consoles	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	1st January 2021 05:50
2021 will be the year passwords die	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	21st December 2020 15:39
2021 will be the year of Linux on the desktop	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	8th December 2020 07:01
2021 will be the Year of AI	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	26th October 2020 09:02
Warner pushes 'Dune' theatrical release back a year, to October 2021	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	6th October 2020 13:44
NASA's mission to Mars includes a year-long stay on the moon	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	12th May 2017 10:56
Simulated Mars mission ends its year-long experiment	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	29th August 2016 08:20
Elon Musk Unveiling Mars Spacecraft Later This Year	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	31st January 2016 19:40
Will ‘08 Be The Year For Desktop Linux?	Sidney	WebNews	1	19th January 2008 10:42