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From: mcp@sei.cmu.edu (Mark Paulk)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Astronauts using HP calculators in space
Keywords: astronauts, NASA, HP, calculators, computers
Message-ID: <9809@as0c.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 20 Dec 90 21:15:20 GMT
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University (Software Engineering Institute), Pgh, PA
Lines: 17

Some time ago I followed a discussion on the net that went something like...

HP gave some astronauts calculators as a PR gimmick.
They included a simple orbital calculation program.
The calculators were more powerful than the onboard Shuttle computers,
so the astronauts started carrying them into space as unofficial backups.
NASA eventually started issuing calculators as offical issue.

I mentioned this to someone, who was interested and asked to where I
heard it.  I've been trying to track the discussion down (I thought it
was on comp.risks, but no luck finding it in the archives).  Did anyone
save this thread?  Would you e-mail it to me?

-- 
Mark C. Paulk 					    mcp@sei.cmu.edu

      "Maturity is a function of scar tissue."