Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope

Iria · Oct 15, 2008, 03:45 AM

Nasa engineers will try today to reboot the $2bn (£1.1bn) Hubble Space Telescope, which has been out of commission for a fortnight after a computer failure. The monitoring staff will attempt to send commands to the craft, orbiting 300 miles above the Earth, to switch on a back-up computer which has not been activated since the telescope was launched more than 18 years ago.
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Source: Guardian

CDsDontBurn · Oct 15, 2008, 06:31 AM

incredible that it has already been 18yrs. since the telescope was launched!

Necrosis · Oct 15, 2008, 12:41 PM

Man you would of thought they would of tested it by now.

Partizan · Oct 15, 2008, 12:50 PM

I hope it doesn't run on a Microsoft platform

CDsDontBurn · Oct 15, 2008, 02:18 PM

lol, if it does, it's probably DOS

OldBuzzard · Oct 15, 2008, 03:11 PM

Interesting info here: Re: Advanced Computer: 486

Evidently the original computer was upgraded once, and then replaced with a 486 based system.

It's from 1999 though, and the system MAY have been updated since then, but I kind of doubt it.

As for an OS, I doubt that it uses Windows. No need for it. Probably DOS or even CP-M. And, if they did it right, it's programmed in ASSEMBLER Language, which gives you more control, and leaner, more efficient programs.

For applications like the Hubble, and other 'space goodies', you use what works, and is RELIABLE, and that isn't always 'cutting edge' technology. Shucks, not all that long ago, when they re-started the Shuttle program after the Challenger accident, NASA was scouring the planet looking for 8088 processors for use in the Shuttle.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 16, 2008, 01:44 AM

i bet you can install winXP on that 486 machine. i know i've done it before

Oct 15, 2008, 03:45 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope Nasa engineers will try today to reboot the $2bn (£1.1bn) Hubble Space Telescope, which has been out of commission for a fortnight after a computer failure. The monitoring staff will attempt to send commands to the craft, orbiting 300 miles above the Earth, to switch on a back-up computer which has not been activated since the telescope was launched more than 18 years ago. ____________ Source: Guardian

Oct 15, 2008, 06:31 AM	#2
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope incredible that it has already been 18yrs. since the telescope was launched! __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 15, 2008, 12:41 PM	#3
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope Man you would of thought they would of tested it by now.

Oct 15, 2008, 12:50 PM	#4
Partizan Fun loving criminal Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,182 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope I hope it doesn't run on a Microsoft platform __________________ Live and let live!

Oct 15, 2008, 02:18 PM	#5
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope lol, if it does, it's probably DOS __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 15, 2008, 03:11 PM	#6
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 141 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope Interesting info here: Re: Advanced Computer: 486 Evidently the original computer was upgraded once, and then replaced with a 486 based system. It's from 1999 though, and the system MAY have been updated since then, but I kind of doubt it. As for an OS, I doubt that it uses Windows. No need for it. Probably DOS or even CP-M. And, if they did it right, it's programmed in ASSEMBLER Language, which gives you more control, and leaner, more efficient programs. For applications like the Hubble, and other 'space goodies', you use what works, and is RELIABLE, and that isn't always 'cutting edge' technology. Shucks, not all that long ago, when they re-started the Shuttle program after the Challenger accident, NASA was scouring the planet looking for 8088 processors for use in the Shuttle. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Oct 16, 2008, 01:44 AM	#7
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	Re: Sky-high tech Nasa engineers try to reboot Hubble telescope i bet you can install winXP on that 486 machine. i know i've done it before __________________ Her First Day \| A year later