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From: rrd@hpfcso.HP.COM (Ray Depew)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Re: Astronauts using HP calculators in space
Message-ID: <7360039@hpfcso.HP.COM>
Date: 7 Jan 91 17:37:51 GMT
References: <1991Jan02.193731.5768@grep.co.uk>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Lines: 49

re:  HP's in spa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-c-e

> The article implies that NASA was the prime mover in getting the calculators
> on board, and held comparative trials between different models before
> deciding on the HP-41, mainly for its large memory capacity and alphanumeric
> display.  All the software was written by NASA.

Even better than that:  The astronauts wanted some kind of HHC on the first
flight of [name that shuttle!], and their boss asked them what the wanted.
Their response was something like "I dunno," so the boss gave them some petty
cash and sent them to yer typical Houston calculator store.

They went in, incognito, and asked the salesman for his best scientific 
calculator -- hardly a specific request.  He pulled a 41 out of the display
case and launched (sorry about that) into his sales pitch.  When he was done,
the guys said "We'll take two," paid for them and walked out.

(In fairness, they looked at the TI-59, too, but the competitive evaluation
was done right there in the store, and the poor TI didn't stand a chance. 
Maybe against an HP-67, but not a 41.)

According to PERSONAL COMPUTING, Oct/Nov 1984, p. 51, the 41's were originally
intended to be general-purpose number crunchers.  It wasn't until after the
astronauts and ground crew started learning how to use them that NASA realized
what they really had in their hands.  That's when the AOS and other programs
were built.

The flying 41's were only slightly different from the earthbound versions.
-	The expansion ports and the AC adapter port were welded shut, to 
	minimize the risk of ESD frying the calc's innards.
-	The little rubber footies (yes, that's the scientific term) were
	removed, as the rubber tended to outgas in the rarified atmosphere of
	the shuttle, posing a slight fire hazard.
-	Velcro was glued everywhere but on the sides of the calculators, so
	that they would obey the commands "SIT" and "STAY" in the
	weightlessness of space.
-	The only customization performed by HP was that a prototype of the 
	HP-41 Timer Module was installed in each calculator.  (I guess you 
	could say that NASA beta-tested the Timer Module.)
-	Somebody (HP? NASA?) put a louder beeper inside an empty card-reader
	case and installed this custom speaker on one of the 41's.

The PERSONAL COMPUTING article shows a picture of three 41's floating next
to a console in the shuttle, with Sally Ride floating alongside them.

--
Regards
Ray 
rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com