patrick.net

Old technology functions perfectly well in space applications

It's not the first time we've heard of apparently obsolete technology still performing a perfectly adequate function. The Spirit and Opportunity exploration rovers on Mars feature a 32bit Rad 6000 microprocessor – another MIPS based device – running at 20MIPS.

While Spirit is now out of action, Opportunity is still working, although problems with the on board 256Mbyte of flash mean it's now reliant upon 128k of ROM. Despite that, it's managed to travel more than 42km and undertake a lot of science along the way.

So that's why the computers used in the spaceships of the Aliens universe look like TRS-80s.

#scitech