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From: john@frog.UUCP (John Woods)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle Status for 10/11/89 (Forwarded)
Message-ID: <2121@frog.UUCP>
Date: 16 Oct 89 04:41:00 GMT
References: <33403@ames.arc.nasa.gov> <1621@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Organization: Misanthropes-R-Us
Lines: 18

In article <1621@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>, johnson@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Wayne D. T. Johnson) writes:
> In article <33403@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes:
> >          controller. The controller weighs about 230 pounds and is an
> >          electronic package that controls all main engine components and
> >          operations. The dimensions of the controller are 23 X 14 X 7inches.
> Hmmm. Thats about the size of a PC.  And it weighs 230 pounds?  On what 
> planet did they weigh this?  Or is it using lead instead of silicon in its
> chips.  On second thought, its probably descreet transistors mounted on 
> cement PC boards.

Though it probably is made from bulkier, heaver technology than a
typical PC, it probably owes a good fraction of its weight to being in a
thick, iron box which is EMI proof.  Unlike a typical PC user, NASA
probably cares whether or not the engine computers crash when a nearby
radio transmits...
-- 
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA 508-626-1101
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