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Ariane 5 (Flight 501)
The most expensive integer overflow in history.
Mission Overview
The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 ended 37 seconds after launch. The guidance computer tried to convert a 64-bit number to a 16-bit integer, causing a "data overflow" that turned the engines sideways.
Learning from History
"The failure taught the world the importance of "unit testing" and "fault tolerance" in software systems."
Mission Specs
| Year | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Country | ESA |
| Type | Heavy Lift / Test |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Status | Failed |
| Rocket | Vulcain Engine |