When we talk about software, we must recognize that it now forms the fundamental layer supporting various technologies, underscoring its critical importance.
For instance, in high-risk fields such as aerospace, software failures can lead to catastrophic consequences. In this article, I will analyze some typical cases to understand the significant impact that software issues can have in these error-intolerant, high-risk environments.
01 — Ariane 5 Rocket Explosion
On June 4, 1996, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Ariane 5 rocket for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. However, the mission faced extreme difficulty: a catastrophic failure caused by a single line of code led to the explosion of the rocket just 37 seconds after launch, resulting in a loss valued at nearly 500 million euros.
Originally, the Ariane 5 launch aimed to place two communication satellites into geostationary transfer orbit. Initially, everything went smoothly, but the rocket quickly veered off course and exploded 37 seconds into the flight. Investigations revealed that the root…
