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NASA could learn a thing or two from open source software such as Linux and MySQL, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said yesterday, according to PC World. Speaking at event to mark the space agency's 50th anniversary yesterday, Schmidt told the crowd, "assume that you don't have all the answers." (If only Schmidt would apply that lesson to himself.)

Schmidt said NASA should seek more collaboration with other government agencies as well as the private sector. He asked for more programs like NASA's Centennial Challenge, the program which awarded a Maine engineer $200,000 last year for designing a new space glove. And Schmidt said he's glad NASA allows Google to use some of its satellite imagery for Google Earth.

It's all good advice, but let's hope NASA remembers that unlike Google's OpenSocial and Android, it takes more than hype to launch a rocket. (Photo by Thorne Enterprises)