In 1996, Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket exploded just 37 seconds after launch. The cause? A software bug — a failed number conversion that turned a $370 million spacecraft into fireworks.
In 1998, Bill Gates took the stage to show off Windows 98. Instead, the world got a front-row seat to the dreaded Blue Screen of Death — live. A legendary fail that proved even tech giants aren’t safe from the demo curse.
A $327 million NASA mission burned up in Mars’ atmosphere — all because one team used pounds, and another used newtons. A story of how a tiny unit mismatch caused one of space history’s biggest “facepalm” moments.
Every flight is powered by $440 million lines of code, not just wings. This episode explores the stories, dangers, and hidden complexity of the software that keeps airplanes in the air.