Questions tagged [computing]
Questions about the computation of problems for space exploration (whether on board or on the ground), especially with electronic devices like computers
49 questions
3votes
0answers
113views
Testing astrodynamics software [closed]
As I’ve been developing my own solutions (and implementing existing ones) to problems in astrodynamics to solve textbook questions and to build applications, I’m becoming increasingly interested in ...
- 119
1vote
1answer
216views
What practical tasks did you start working on in programming PLD/FPGA for spacecraft?
There are a great many areas of application of PLD/FPGA in spacecraft. Let's take as a basis this classification of domains and subdomains, proposed in the November 24, 2023 FPGAInsights.com blogpost ...
- 383
10votes
6answers
4kviews
Orbital Supercomputer for Martian and Outer Planet Computing
As we know, computing will (and really has) been important to research missions for space science and exploration. I read about the Spacebourne Computer program HPE and NASA used for the ISS as proof ...
- 235
4votes
1answer
534views
Computationally solving the two-body problem for patched conics approximation
I have been trying to create an orbital simulation using the patched conics approximation like Kerbal Space Program. I initially tried solving Kepler's equation using Newton's method, however this ...
3votes
3answers
2kviews
First TTL chip in space and in orbit? Was it a 7400 series or something that predates?
Similarly to The first transistors in space: Germanium or Silicon? What about in orbit? First LED left on another planet⁺ by humans? w/list of space electronic "firsts" questions what was ...
- 153k
1vote
0answers
142views
Space shuttle digital signal processor (DSP): floating point or fixed point?
Digital signal processors can represent irrational numbers using fixed-point or floating-point data types. Fixed point means fixed number of decimal places, and floating point means floating number of ...
user39728
11votes
1answer
846views
What DID NASA do with "the world's largest quantum computer"? (re question from 2013)
@TildalWave's 2013 question What does NASA plan to do with the world's largest quantum computer? has several answers, including one in a comment: Maintaining this computer is expected to bring ...
- 153k
8votes
1answer
304views
Rad-Hard vs Space-Hard computing
Radiation hardened CPUs like RAD750 are radiation hardened for up to 1000 gray. Cool. But, as CPUs have advanced way ahead their mechanical counterparts in miniaturization and fragility, energy ...
- 183
38votes
5answers
15kviews
Why is the James Webb Space Telescope's data storage space so small?
In a previous question, I learned that the JWST's solid state recorder (SSR) can hold at least 58.8 Gbytes of recorded science data. Which each day requires two, 4 hour downlinks with earth to empty ...
- 1,331
2votes
0answers
70views
CesiumJS: Hayabusa 2 location w.r.t Earth
Given these coordinates w.r.t Sun: Hayabusa: x = 86014493 y = 112689997 z = 54295960 Earth: x = 82241037 y = 112748971 z = 48876281 How do I calculate Hayabusa coordinates w.r.t Earth center? I ...
- 3,053
3votes
1answer
816views
How to solve the two-body problem in the ECI frame through numerical integration?
I need to know how to solve two-body problem by solving a system of first order equation derived from the equation below. $$\ddot{\mathbf{r}} = -\frac{\mu}{r^3}\mathbf{r}$$ How do I go about this, and ...
9votes
1answer
385views
Did the RTCC ever “fail over” to the standby computer during a mission?
The Real Time Computer Complex (RTCC) was the central computing facility for the Gemini and Apollo programs, and contained, during the Apollo program, several IBM System 360 mainframes. These systems ...
- 1,586
23votes
7answers
6kviews
Unix Epoch in International Space Station
The International Space Station is in a different gravitational field than us on the Earth's surface. Almost all computers / protocols depend on the Unix epoch being consistent everywhere. The Unix ...
- 347
3votes
1answer
251views
Implementation of NASA Breakup model Area to Mass distribution
In the research "NASA's new breakup model of evolve 4.0" the implementation for the area to mass distribution of fragments produced by collisions and explosions is provided. The distribution ...
10votes
2answers
1kviews
What are the general properties and specs for JWST's onboard data and image processing capabilities?
Answers and comments on What is the data storage capabilities onboard the James Webb Telescope? which reference the James Webb Space Telescope User Documentation item JWST Solid State Recorder mention ...
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