Voyager probe 'leaves Solar System'

anthony · Sep 12, 2013

Voyager probe 'leaves Solar System':

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24026153

Pretty amazing when you realize that there are only three different computer types on the Voyager spacecraft, and there are two of each kind. Total number of words among the six computers is about 32K.

Computer Command System (CCS) - 18-bit word, interrupt type processors (2) with 4096 words each of plated wire, non-volatile memory.

Flight Data System (FDS) - 16-bit word machine (2) with modular memories and 8198 words each

Attitude and Articulation Control System (AACS) - 18-bit word machines (2) with 4096 words each.

monaghan · Sep 12, 2013

Just shows you how much bloat there is in "modern" computer systems!

My kids didn't believe me when I told them that their phones had more computing power than the VAX I used to manage that took up a room nearly 2 times bigger than our dining room, but one VAX was used to layout PCB's and another was used to write software to run on systems that were built on these PCB's.

I had the chance to have a good look at Colossus the other year when visiting Bletchley Park, it is actually hugely impressive what these guys could actually do with the very limited technology available at the time.