Why does NASA use those really old computers?

Question

Some of those computers are ancient. Why not upgrade to something a little bit more modern? You'd think that they would have the top-of-the-line technology, not old clunky computers that are over 40 years old.

Answer 1

I'm going to add to what scythian1950 said.

First of all, I'm going to assume, as scythian did, that you're talking about seemingly outdated chips on spacecraft, as NASA's got plenty of modern computing power on the ground in its research centers

As scythian mentioned before, spacecraft development is a factor contributing to the age of the chips used. Spacecraft avionics and electronics are developed in parallel with the rest of the spacecraft, so it's not possible for a designer to simply drop in the newest technology right before launch.

Another factor to consider is the development of the chips themselves. Except in a few very rare cases, once a satellite is launched into orbit, it is not possible for anyone to reach the satellite to perform mechanical maintenance on it, so the systems on board must be very robust. For this reason, satellites typically use versions of commercial chips that have been modified to withstand the extreme radiation environments in which spacecraft operate. However, due to the extreme amounts of development and testing required to design rad-hardened chips, the availability of rad-hardened chips tends to lag a few generations behind regular top-of-the-line commercial products.

Finally, power consumption and functionality are other things to consider when selecting electronics for spacecraft. A desktop Pentium chip may be nice for multi-tasking and for displaying YouTube video images in real time, but these are extra functionalities that are simply not needed by a spacecraft, and they can come with a power cost in excess of 80 watts. In contrast, most spacecraft will make use of more specialized chips, such as DSPs and FPGAs, which may typically require less than 1 watt of electrical power.

Answer 2

First off: who said NASA uses "ancient" computers? Where do you get this idea? I doubt you will find too many 40 year old computer systems in use at NASA.

Secondly: NASA uses computers for many reasons, among them: normal office work like any business, mission critical ground systems, analysis, and flight systems.

The office computers are just as modern as any other place uses. The analysis type work is done on a range of computers from supercomputers to laptops. The age of the system is more related to the software required than anything. Mission critical ground systems also range but are not updated on a constant basis. The hardware and software is under such strict configuration control that it is very costly and very time consuming to upgrade. The flight hardware is a totally different issue. Some reasons for flight hardware to be older:

1. Why do I want or need a 3 GHz modern CPU with 8 GB of memory when all I require is a 133 MHz 386 processor with 1 MB of memory? There is simply no purpose. No-one is doing 3-D graphics modelling on the Space Station's avionics components.

2. The design of the computer systems usually gets locked in years before the hardware is procured and built, then it may be several years more before the vehicle is flown. So you tend to end up with older hardware.

3. Space vehicles require radiation hardened microprocessors and memory. Military Spec Radiation Hardened CPUs do not grow on trees. They are expensive and there is a long lead time to get them. Also: the military usually is going to get first dibs on production. This type of manufacturing is so specialized that the chip makers settle on a certain set of chips that will be manufactured to military rad specs and they stick with that for a while. The systems get designed to utilize it, and so its a perpetuating situation. But again - they are used in systems that have very specific requirements and really aren't hugely CPU intensive. Again: nobody is playing 3D video games on a M1 Tank's targetting computer...

Answer 3

Uses For Old Computers

Answer 4

Launch control does use computers from the 70's. The main reason why they don't upgrade is the cost. Not so much the cost of the new equipment and software, but the cost in both money and time of testing for fault tolerance. Their current system works just fine without problems and the cost/benefit ratio of upgrading to something more modern doesn't justify the upgrade. It's like the old saying goes - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Answer 5

NASA uses a lot of archaic programming, and in order to update, they would need to update nearly every piece of machinery they have, as well as reprogram all of the software. It would also make many satellites obsolete.

As well, NASA needs reliability over all else. A machine that runs 100 times as fast, but crashes 100 times as often is no good to NASA. One failed calculation can make a Mars rover landing worthless, or throw a satellite off course far beyond any intended mission.

They use top of the line tech when it doesn't conflict with legacy hardware/software. Also, keep in mind that NASA is on a limited budget that hasn't exactly been expanding lately. Even if they wanted a system-wide upgrade, they probably couldn't afford that.

Answer 6

Reason 1 : Because of power requirements. Current PC can draw electricity minimum 400 watt, but ancient computer such 486 or 386 draw maximum 180 watt. Spaceship doesn't generate lots of power. They have to divide precisely the need of power.

Reason 2 : Emission. The more less the electronic device draw power, the less the emission such heat to be emitted.

Reason 3 : Electromagnetic. Every electronic device create electromagnetic radiation. the more faster the processor work, the more high the electromagnetic radiation. Spaceship contains lots of electronic devices, all of them emit electromagnetic radiation. Those electronic device can't interference other electronic devices.

REason 4 : Yes it's old computer, but those computer are configured with special softwares and optimized. They don't need such current PC because they don't need play games. Besides, they aren't working with only one computer, but with hundred of computer which each of them is specialized on what have to be calculated.

There's other reason that i don't know. I've read this on the magazine and i have had the same questions as you before.

Answer 7

You're probably thinking about the "ancient" computer chips being used in space probes, when everybody has more advanced chips in their homes. The reason for this strange anomaly is that it could be over a decade from the time a probe is designed to the time it's FINALLY launched into space. By the time it's launched into space, the original specified chip is already 10 years out of date. It's too dififcult and too risky to incorporate more advanced chips near the launch date, because testing and qualtiy control is of paramount importance, and putting in a new chip introduces an unknown and unacceptable factor.

Answer 8

Same reason the FAA and NORAD do, or that the FBI can't track terrorist suspects -- federal acquisition of computers is badly, badly FUBARed.

The process of government computer buying is beyond ridiculous.

Answer 9

I think it's because they have all of their stuff on those old computers and it would take to much time to move it to a new one.

Answer 10

I don't know. It does seem strange, but I guess some of those scientists have gotten really comfortable with their systems, and probably wouldn't want to change.

I guess once you're happy with something, you're happy. ...but rest assured they have super-modern computers wherever they really need them.