Akin’s Laws of Spacecraft Design

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Akin’s Laws of Spacecraft Design apply beyond their stated domain. For example:

  • Everything is linear if plotted log-log with a fat magic marker. (Mar’s Law)
  • At the start of any design effort, the person who most wants to be team leader is least likely to be capable of it.
  • When in doubt, estimate. In an emergency, guess. But be sure to go back and clean up the mess when the real numbers come along.
  • A bad design with a good presentation is doomed eventually. A good design with a bad presentation is doomed immediately.

(Hat tip à mon père.)

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