Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!ricci
From: ricci@cbmvax.commodore.com (Mark Ricci - CATS)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: New (!?!?!?!) Shuttle Computers
Message-ID: <19740@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 11 Mar 91 17:41:35 GMT
References: <1991Mar7.142311.10412@vaxa.strath.ac.uk>
Reply-To: ricci@cbmvax.commodore.com (Mark Ricci - CATS)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 26

In article <1991Mar7.142311.10412@vaxa.strath.ac.uk> cabp10@vaxa.strath.ac.uk (Theora Jones, In Person!) writes:
>
> Excuse me for my ignorance in this matter, but I'm still a student and I find
>it completely unbelievable that NASA are using technology that even 'toy'
>home computers no longer use...

I spent eight years programming for various defense firms and I was told that
the military is reluctant to switch to new technologies for existing programs
without an awful lot of testing.  They seem to prefer old and known to new and
unknown.

It doesn't make a lot of sense in some ways, but then again, you're talking
about people's lives and there is going to be a certain amount of overkill
when it comes to safety.

Of course, for a new program, they will include as many new and exotic 
technologies as possible. :^)

Mark
-- 
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  Mark Ricci - CATS              | "I don't think so! Homey don't play dat." 
  Commodore Applications and     |
  Technical Support              |    - Homey the Clown                     
  ricci@cbmvax.commodore.com     |         In Living Color                  
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