US Space Shuttle runs on 1MB of RAM

[D.B. Cooper]

And 80s technology. I dunno I have a hard time comprehending that.

If you were flying into out-of-space, you would expect to travel in a space shuttle powered by tons of fancy and modern computers to ensure a safe journey to and from space. You may assume that the system would have tons of RAM, hard drive space, a superfast processor and much more. However the current space shuttle being used actually only run of 1MB of RAM. The computer’s technological framework is based on models from the 1980’s with a few recent upgrades added.

With no fancy GUI such as that included in Windows 7 or MAC OS X Leopard, the totally UNIX-based system that is command driven, does not require a ton of temporary memory space or a fast processor to monitor data from its sensors, or manage systems controls. Even though the entire code may look very complex, it was made to run on that 1980’s processing system, and still does today. Unlike a regular computer, the programs don’t have to be updated to match today’s needs, since there are no new needs really. It’s been basically the same series of launch events 30 years ago and that has allowed them to work with the older system.

But why not upgrade anyway? Cost and risk are two main reasons for working with the current system. Considering NASA’s tight budget, they would have to spend lots of time and lots of money testing those systems time and time again to ensure a shuttle take of is near fail-safe. Installing and upgrading the software and hardware basically puts them back into a place where they have to rebuild their knowledge base about how the system operates and there would be significant risk of some failure along the line.

http://www.blogtechnical.com/hardwar...ogy-still.html

[Mithie]

UNIX doesn't blue screen.

[Phier]

Being I remember the first shuttle launch, the 1mb of ram then would have been talked about like.....

'The shuttle has an amazing array of computers, with 4 working redundantly in case of failure during launch. They also have a staggering 1 mega byte storage capacity, over 150 time what a standard computer has.'

Whats really scary is that the moon landing was done by a computer which would lose a fight with a 1980's casio watch.

[Holger Danske]

Makes you wonder how powerful the avionics in a potential Mars spacecraft will be.

[Elfdude]

Not, they canceled it. We'll have to wait until a commercial entity decides to do it.

Frankly it seems like the world is distinctly lacking the Geniuses like those who got us to the moon, be it for lack of interest in space or because people of that caliber are no longer required.

[gambit]

Not, they canceled it. We'll have to wait until a commercial entity decides to do it.

Frankly it seems like the world is distinctly lacking the Geniuses like those who got us to the moon, be it for lack of interest in space or because people of that caliber are no longer required.

Nothing like a little cold-war inspired fervor. Competition really gets us humans moving

[Space Wolves]

1 MB of ram with antiquated technology or upgrading to Windows and have an untimely BSOD or error cept Win7, ITS AWSUM SAUCE

[Yosemite]

they should use apple, everything just works with apple

[Justinian]

they should use apple, everything just works with apple

Maybe they would call it "The iDon'tdisentigrateonre-entry".

[HansDuet]

they should use apple, everything just works with apple

Get out.

[cfmonkey45]

they should use apple, everything just works with apple

Touchscreen Space Shuttle FTW!

Steve Jobs would probably ask that they design the space shuttle without engines to make aesthetically pleasing, or make a larger version of something already in existence. Since Apple practically is marketing, NASA will probably buy fifty of them, along with almost any and all Apple Fan Boys.


If a private corporation did build one, I'd put my money on Virgin.

[Elfdude]

Except anything you want to work.

[Swagger]

that means my crappy laptop that barely runs medieval 2 total war could put us all on jupiter without any trouble

[Gaidin]

that means my crappy laptop that barely runs medieval 2 total war could put us all on jupiter without any trouble

Who would like to tell me what's wrong with this?

[Gordon Freynman]

Who would like to tell me what's wrong with this?

Jupiter is obviously inhabited by a hostile alien race...with lasers...from the future.

[Gaidin]

Jupiter is obviously inhabited by a hostile alien race...with lasers...from the future.

I was more shooting for the fact that Jupiter isn't uhh...solid enough to land on. But I guess that would work too.

[Holger Danske]

Except we would die trying to do something as foolish as that...

[Mcgruder]

The guidence computer that got us to the Moon had only 2k of RAM.

[Helm]

If it works why fix it?

[DisgruntledGoat]

If it works why fix it?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Technology is developing at such a wicked fast pace that companies (and NASA) can't keep up. It cost way too much money to upgrade systems to modern tech. And when the old stuff still works perfectly fine, why waste the capital. Heck, the steel mill I work in still has perfectly functioning equipment from the 50's and computer equipment from the 70's. Its a pain in the ass to interface with, but it works. I'm sure thats been NASA's approach to upgrading the shuttles.