From: schillin@spock.usc.edu   
      
   On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:31:14 -0700, "Max Power"   
    wrote:   
      
   >Hard drives on 'Deep Space' missions: any idea why they are never used?   
      
   Mostly because hard drives have moving parts, and moving parts are a   
   serious annoyance to engineers who have to design hardware that absolutely   
   must work for years at a time with absolutely no possibility of repair or   
   servicing.   
      
   Also, hard drives require air to work - it's guaranteed head crash time if   
   you try to spin one up in vacuum.  You can seal them inside a pressurized   
   container, of course, but now you've got a set of seals that absolutely   
   must not leak, again for years at a time with no maintenance.   
      
   Usually, it's easier to go with some sort of no-moving-parts memory;   
   several technologies to chose from, and they'll hold enough data to keep   
   the scientists and journalists happy until the next mission.   
      
      
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