Space shuttle discovery

[Grumpy John]

For any aviators out there that think their cockpit is complicated. Click.

[Scribbly Gum]

For any aviators out there that think their cockpit is complicated. Click.

And it is amazing to think that all that was accomplished using the screaming power of IBM's z-80 chip. This pre-dated the 286, 386, 486, pentium, and all the rest that we now use.
It was from around the time of the Apple II or just before, and had less processing power than a 10 year old Casio watch.
The Space shuttles used Z-80 chips right through until they were retired recently.

...... and you thought you needed a new computer ...................................

[AlexS]

"What's this button do?"

[Grumpy John]

And it is amazing to think that all that was accomplished using the screaming power of IBM's z-80 chip. This pre-dated the 286, 386, 486, pentium, and all the rest that we now use.
It was from around the time of the Apple II or just before, and had less processing power than a 10 year old Casio watch.
The Space shuttles used Z-80 chips right through until they were retired recently.

...... and you thought you needed a new computer ...................................

If you've had a good look around the cockpit you'll notice some white bags/containers, on the right they're numbered 1,2,3 on the left they're numbered 5,6,7,4. Is this one of those floating point processor bugs . What are those bags for anyway, are they parachutes ?

[FenceFurniture]

Jeez, you'd think they could afford something a little more comfy than those Russian-style seats (complete with fart escape slot)! I s'pose it doesn't matter much once you're weightless, but during take off.....

[Jim Carroll]

Wheres the auto pilot button

[ian]

If you've had a good look around the cockpit you'll notice some white bags/containers, . What are those bags for anyway, are they parachutes ?

they're not parachutes
once the blue touch paper is lit, there's really only two options for the shuttle occupants, go up or blow up.
it's only after the boosters cut out that you have options, and by then you're too high and going too fast to just open the door and step out.

The test pilot astronaunts on the original (two?) test flights had parachutes as an option in the even of an uncontrolled ditching or landing. But IIRC NASA soon realised that they were only there as a physiological prop.

[_fly_]

I heard that even till the end they were buying old CPU's, memory and hercules video cards on ebay to keep them running. Couldn't get new ones anywhere.

[ian]

Where's the auto pilot button?

you don't need one, gravity is your automatic auto-pilot

[AlexS]

So where are the throttles, or does it glide to earth?

[Master Splinter]

It glides after the initial de-orbit burn, pretty much like a hypersonic brick.

The on-board computer does all of the work, especially the tricky stuff at the start when the orbiter's speed is mach 25 (30,000km/h).

[underfoot]

For any aviators out there that think their cockpit is complicated. .

Love the link GJ ..having been involved in various flying things over the years...My cockpit controls now consist of two pieces of red string..
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vp0yzvKbvc]Johncam - beach paragliding - YouTube[/ame]

[tea lady]

Love the link GJ ..having been involved in various flying things over the years...My cockpit controls now consist of two pieces of red string..
Johncam - beach paragliding - YouTube

Fantastic. I doubt my feet would let me step off the cliff though!

[tea lady]

And it is amazing to think that all that was accomplished using the screaming power of IBM's z-80 chip. This pre-dated the 286, 386, 486, pentium, and all the rest that we now use.
It was from around the time of the Apple II or just before, and had less processing power than a 10 year old Casio watch.
The Space shuttles used Z-80 chips right through until they were retired recently.

...... and you thought you needed a new computer ...................................

My know all partner wants to set you right.

At the risk of correcting the forum

The Z80 chip was and 8-bit CPU made by Zilog not IBM and clocked at 4-6Mhz has much more power than a casio wristwatch clocked at 32,768Hz.

The Hercules Video Card was an IBM-PC video card only capable of producing monochrome whereas these displays are clearly colour.
This video card plugs into an ISA slot which is the original IBM PC 8 bit bus.


The main engine controllers were based on Honeywell HDC-601s, 2 per engine for redundancy for 3 engines making 6 in total.

These are responsible for fuel sequencing, firing and pointing

Again these are 16bit machines

[underfoot]

Fantastic. I doubt my feet would let me step off the cliff though!

ignoring your feet 101... is the first thing you learn in getting your flying ticket..

My know all partner wants to set you right.

He's only trying to impress you......(with his rediculously impressive general knowledge)
NTDWA..(Nothing To Do With Anything)...One of the demonstrators at turnfest was J Paul Fennel..(amazing turner, thoroughly nice bloke) was also a rocket scientist on most of the Apollo missions....
Talk about earning 'cred'.....if he talked about anything ..(chisels, sandpaper,relationships, etc) you'd listen