EPISODE · May 9, 2026 · 18 MIN
The Comma That Cost NASA $18.1 Million
from Code Curiosities · host Podcaster
In 1962, a single misplaced hyphen in a FORTRAN program sent the Mariner 1 spacecraft careening off course, forcing NASA to blow it up just minutes after launch. We dive into how this legendary 'most expensive hyphen in history' became a cautionary tale about why code review matters—and why the real story is even weirder than the myth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
In 1962, a single misplaced hyphen in a FORTRAN program sent the Mariner 1 spacecraft careening off course, forcing NASA to blow it up just minutes after launch. We dive into how this legendary 'most expensive hyphen in history' became a cautionary tale about why code review matters—and why the real story is even weirder than the myth.
NOW PLAYING
The Comma That Cost NASA $18.1 Million
No transcript for this episode yet