Astronauts floating through space using what looks like “old technology” might sound bizarre at first. But as it turns out, there’s a very practical reason for it. And no, that’s not because NASA is stuck in the past. A recent statement from NASA space expert Jason Hutt sheds light on why missions like Artemis still rely on outdated hardware, including older Windows tablets.
Why NASA is still using “old” technology in space
According to Hutt, it all comes down to testing, cost and reliability. Space hardware cannot be replaced every year like a smartphone. Every single component has to go through extensive certification and testing, which takes years and costs a fortune. So once a device is approved, NASA sticks with it.
In fact, for missions like Artemis, NASA deliberately chose equipment that had already been used on the International Space Station. This eliminated the need to recertify new hardware, saving both time and money. The software has also already been developed for this specific platform, making it the safest and most practical choice.
There’s also the timeline issue. Missions are planned years in advance, meaning that by the time astronauts actually fly, the “cutting-edge” technology is often already outdated by the time of launch. But that’s a compromise NASA is willing to make because reliability is far more important than excellence.
It’s a conscious decision
If you zoom out a bit, this approach is actually standard in space missions. NASA often prefers older, well-tested components because they have been proven to work in extreme environments such as radiation-intensive space. Newer technologies may be faster, but they are also riskier and less predictable.
There are also practical limitations. In space missions, there is no reliable internet like there is on Earth, so software cannot rely on constant connectivity. Add bandwidth limitations and data limitations, and suddenly modern, cloud-heavy systems don’t make sense at all. In other words, space is not the place to experiment with the latest gadgets. Here you get the things that are tested, proven and trustworthy.
