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From: @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:jim@TYCHO.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Shuttle Computers and STS power consumption
Message-ID: <2322@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Jun-85 21:08:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: mordor.2322
Posted: Tue Jun 18 21:08:37 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Jun-85 00:01:23 EDT
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From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA    (James B. Houser)


        A recent posting about  shuttle  cooling  reminded  me  of  an
article  I  ran  across  in  an  old (1980) IBM document.  The article
described the onboard computers as System/4Pi model AP-101 processors.
The  AP-101  appears  to  be  a  3  KIP machine with an intensely ugly
architecture.  Main memory was described as 104KW  (36  bit)  of  core
(really  core!)  with  400  ns access time.  What startled me were the
physical characteristics.  Each of the five  "processors"  appears  to
consist  of  two  boxes.  The  boxes  weigh  58.9  pounds and draw 350
Watts!!!!! This would imply a system total of almost  600  pounds  and
3500  Watts.  Did  they actually use this refugee from the Smithsonian
on the Shuttle and if so are  there  any  reasonable  plans  afoot  to
upgrade?  In  a  related  question, what are the major contributors of
heat during the orbital portion of a shuttle mission?


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