Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!rg20+ From: rg20+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rick Francis Golembiewski) Newsgroups: sci.space Subject: Re: Soviet Semiconductor Manufacturing Message-ID: Date: 29 Jan 89 05:11:33 GMT References: <8901260516.AA04149@crash.cts.com>, <14016@cup.portal.com> Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 27 In-Reply-To: <14016@cup.portal.com> >What would you do with super-perfect crystals grown in microgravity? >Redesign your latest RISC engine for an ultra-custom batch of super-tight >geometry chips? Re-tune your operating system to accommodate the higher >speed? Design new hardware systems to hold these super-chips? What >applications cry out for performance so badly that they can justify >this technology? Humm... How about a brand new super computer for the Soviets (Wouldn't it be grand for the Soviets to have one really increadible machine to do the processing for all of the soviet space program Y times quicker then it is done now...) How about Space applications (kind of running around in circles isn't it ;-), however consider: a fast/smaller system is vital for something that your going to be sending out in space (especially very FAR out, I wonder what the cost per lb was on, say the voyager/viking probes...), also if we want to autonomous Mars rovers then they will need a great deal of processor power (AI is very processer intensive) and weight/power are pretty critical in these situations. Still I doubt that the soviets will make a major industry out of micrograv. crystals, but if they make a few super applications with them it could really boost their space program. Disclaimer: Since I have no idea as to the specifics of the crystals in question I am going on the assumption that they can build something much more powerful then using "regular" earth grown crystals... /// Rick Golembiewski Rg20 +@Andrew.cmu.edu \\\ \\\ "In reality Light is very rude... after all it even /// \\ has a set pattern for interfearence...." //