Rubes Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_...e/space_shuttle NASA wants Discovery back on the ground by Dec. 31 because of concerns that shuttle computers aren't designed to make the change from the 365th day of the old year to the first day of the new year while in flight. "We've just never had the computers up and going when we've transitioned from one year to another," said Discovery astronaut Joan Higginbotham. "We're not really sure how they're going to operate." My goodness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWVaBeach Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Y2K Part Deux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungee Jumper Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_...e/space_shuttleMy goodness. 830760[/snapback] Yeah. They're state-of-the-art early 70's technology. An IPod has far more memory and processing power than the shuttle. This is not surprising in the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 Wide Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_...e/space_shuttleMy goodness. 830760[/snapback] Although they can play Oregon Trail with absolutely no problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 C'mon guys, its only rocket science, its not like we're talking about brain surgery here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Yeah. They're state-of-the-art early 70's technology. An IPod has far more memory and processing power than the shuttle. This is not surprising in the least. 830778[/snapback] Not at all surprising. Processing speed and memory adequate for the task, reliable, and spot-on software. The manual for an old Spectrum Holobyte Co. DOS text and DOS graphics simulator, "Orbiter", took pains to point that out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agilen Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Yeah. They're state-of-the-art early 70's technology. An IPod has far more memory and processing power than the shuttle. This is not surprising in the least. 830778[/snapback] Thats not true....the space shuttle's computer systems have been upgraded as time goes on. However, being a former-ipod-current-white-paperweight owner myself, I wouldn't trust the technology in an ipod for one minute to get me into space. There is a big difference between commodity hardware and mission-critical hardware/software. The latter has far, far more quality control and is much harder and more expensive to produce. Off the shelf solutions would never get anyone into space. "old" technology to NASA is "proven" technology, and they aren't going to switch to some x86 processor because it can chug though 40x the instructions per second, all while consuming 10x the power and running so hot that the shuttle's head shield can't even handle it. NASA knows what it is doing, they are just taking every necessary precaution here, because people's lives depend on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 C'mon guys, its only rocket science, its not like we're talking about brain surgery here 830801[/snapback] rocket surgery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMadCap Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Thats not true....the space shuttle's computer systems have been upgraded as time goes on. However, being a former-ipod-current-white-paperweight owner myself, I wouldn't trust the technology in an ipod for one minute to get me into space. There is a big difference between commodity hardware and mission-critical hardware/software. The latter has far, far more quality control and is much harder and more expensive to produce. Off the shelf solutions would never get anyone into space. "old" technology to NASA is "proven" technology, and they aren't going to switch to some x86 processor because it can chug though 40x the instructions per second, all while consuming 10x the power and running so hot that the shuttle's head shield can't even handle it. NASA knows what it is doing, they are just taking every necessary precaution here, because people's lives depend on it. 830836[/snapback] Yes. And no. Shuttles routinely go through maintenance to upgrade hardware and software. That is where Endeavor is right now, in fact. While they no longer have the old school IBMs with the computing power of a modern calculator, it really doesn't need as much power as one would think. For example, 99% of the launch and 90% of the landing is automated from mission control. The shuttle astronauts flip switches and monitor thier progress, as if they could actually do anything should an emergency arrive. Mission control is flying the bird... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Thats not true....the space shuttle's computer systems have been upgraded as time goes on. However, being a former-ipod-current-white-paperweight owner myself, I wouldn't trust the technology in an ipod for one minute to get me into space. There is a big difference between commodity hardware and mission-critical hardware/software. The latter has far, far more quality control and is much harder and more expensive to produce. Off the shelf solutions would never get anyone into space. "old" technology to NASA is "proven" technology, and they aren't going to switch to some x86 processor because it can chug though 40x the instructions per second, all while consuming 10x the power and running so hot that the shuttle's head shield can't even handle it. NASA knows what it is doing, they are just taking every necessary precaution here, because people's lives depend on it. 830836[/snapback] I wouldn't want an Windows machine running the shuttle. What if you got a blue screen while descending? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meazza Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I wouldn't want an Windows machine running the shuttle. What if you got a blue screen while descending? 830952[/snapback] Ctrl-Alt-Del. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Ctrl-Alt-Del. 830960[/snapback] That about sums it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Yeah. They're state-of-the-art early 70's technology. An IPod has far more memory and processing power than the shuttle. This is not surprising in the least. 830778[/snapback] I wouldnt recommend iPod technology for the shuttle. The last thing they need is to hit the wrong button, and automatically shuffle the re-entry sequence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACor58 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Although they can play Oregon Trail with absolutely no problem 830786[/snapback] In school, I used to write swear words on the tombstones when my character would die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungee Jumper Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I wouldnt recommend iPod technology for the shuttle. The last thing they need is to hit the wrong button, and automatically shuffle the re-entry sequence. 831056[/snapback] And that would decrease reliability somehow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjeff215 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I wouldn't want an Windows machine running the shuttle. What if you got a blue screen while descending? 830952[/snapback] http://www.apple.com/macos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I had read that the first HP calculators had more power than the Command Module computer on Apollo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ieatcrayonz Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I wouldn't want an Windows machine running the shuttle. What if you got a blue screen while descending? 830952[/snapback] They really shouldn't be surfing the internet while descending anyway. They should be at the steering wheel flying the plane. They can wait until they get home and use a computer then. We have become so indulgent as a society that these guys can't go to space without a computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMadCap Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I had read that the first HP calculators had more power than the Command Module computer on Apollo. 831300[/snapback] Not only that, they had more power than the launch computer for the SaturnV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Ctrl-Alt-Del. 830960[/snapback] Thanks...I just pissed myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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