Maintaining NASTRAN: the politics and technics of aerospace computing

This thesis describes a process of how NASA maintained the NASTRAN (NASA Structural Analysis) computer program. Chapter one addresses my theoretical concern and suggests to learn from both critical theorists and social constructivists. Chapters Two and Three tell the story of NASA and NASTRAN, a computer program developed by NASA for solving problems of airframes and space structures. The story of NASA and NASTRAN demonstrates a structural imbalance between social groups of NASTRAN and results in the revision of NASTRAN in favor of aerospace users. Chapter Four recounts Feynman's concerns regarding the conflicts between managerial and engineering expertise. I discuss these issues in light of the story of NASA and NASTRAN.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Science and Technology Studies

Department dc:contributor.department

Science and Technology Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1995

Author dc:creator

• Hu, Minghui

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Downey, Gary L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ceruzzi, Paul E.
• Fuhrman, Ellsworth R.
• Burian, Richard M.

• computer programs

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06082009-170731

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42880