NASA Gets a New Fix on Problems

"NASA's Ames Research Center is developing a computerized simulator that will offer versatility not previously seen in simulation software and allow engineers to deal better with unforeseen problems.

NASA views the software, called Virtual Iron Bird, as a precursor to the holodeck used on the Star Trek series, but on a much smaller scale. It allows engineers to create what-if scenarios with spacecraft and other objects, instead of having to build full-size or nearly full-size mockups." [Wired News]

This project is interesting in-and-of-itself, but here's the real reason I'm posting this:

"Because the Virtual Iron Bird is driven by an Oracle database, changes to the environment can be made on the fly."

See, SLS. It is rocket science.