[LeanderK]

Even more offtopic: I would be interested in how it's handled in general. So for long-running projects (10-15years)...do they redo outdated parts? Wait until the last minute and don't plan "obviously useless" parts in advance? For example big construction projects that are in a limbo for some years, have they already detailed plans entirely on outdated equipment (from security to elevators) or just kept em blank?

There's a big construction project near me where the architect was chosen 20 yers ago and now the costs explode, i was thinking whether this is a cause (outdated plans because one didn't follow through immediately).

[kelchm]

Tangential (and not my area of expertise), but I do know that the Ingenuity helicopter uses an off-the-shelf Snapdragon 801 SoC. As I understand it that is very unusual for any projects like this, let alone something like the JWST.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)#Design

[Brian_K_White]

It has always been a specific goal of the Mars rovers since the very first one, to use a faster/cheaper design and production process than traditional Nasa projects.

In essense, using more off the shelf parts for the Mars rovers is part of the science experiment.

[dandelany]

This was true of the first rover (Pathfinder ‘97) but really hasn’t been true of rovers since then. Ingenuity was an exception re: COTS parts since it was experimental.

Pathfinder cost <$300M. “Better cheaper faster” became Discovery class missions, “capped” at $500M. Curiosity and Perseverance cost about $2.5B each. Not in the same category.

[mch82]

NASA has teams of engineers focused on supply chain and reliability.

Supply Chain Risk Management, https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/supply-chain-risk-manag...

“NASA’s Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) program ensures that the systems within NASA’s spaceflight programs and projects perform as required throughout their life cycles to satisfy mission objectives.” https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/reliability-and-maintai...