[Chaebixi]

> I think the most interesting lessons to learn from this have to do with long term software maintenance.

Yes! And with re-engineering too! When you redevelop a system, you need to build up historical knowledge of its antecedents, and teach it to the current operators and maintainers. You shouldn't just start from scratch from the requirements.

In this case, there was an even older legacy system that had a similar incident in 1971, which they then mitigated. Apparently that lesson was lost.

http://conelrad.blogspot.com/2010/09/code-word-hatefulness-g...:

> …In the past three tapes, one for the test and two for actual emergencies, were hanging on three labeled hooks above the transmitter… In the future only the test tape will be left near the transmitter. The two emergency tapes [will be] be sealed in clearly marked envelopes and placed inside a nearby cabinet.