| IBM computers have played a key role in each Space Shuttle
mission from liftoff to landing. This role follows more
than two decades of IBM support to a variety of NASA space
programs, including every manned space flight.
For the Space Shuttle, IBM's support has included programming
and data processing equipment for onboard and ground-based
Space Shuttle monitoring and control, as well as launch
support.
The initial Shuttle orbiter avionics data processing
system was provided by IBM' s Federal Systems Division
under contract to the Space Division of Rockwell International
Corp.
Five IBM computers — four of which were arranged
in a redundant configuration, with a fifth computer acting
as a backup unit — allowed early Shuttle missions
to continue even if multiple failures were experienced.
The computers cross-checked each other more than 500 times
a second. In flight, the Shuttle orbiter was controlled
by electrical signals generated by the digital computers — a
concept called fly-by-wire — and sent to hydraulic-driven
actuators.
Developed at IBM's Owego, N.Y., facility, the onboard
computers were part of an Advanced System/4 Pi, avionics
computer series. Input/Output Processors, also built in
Owego, acted as an interface between the computers and
other orbiter systems.
Computer programming for the onboard units was developed
at IBM's Houston, Texas, facility for NASA. In addition
to the flight controllers, the programs handled the crew
displays, monitoring systems and guidance, navigation
and control functions.
Examples of early IBM Shuttle contracts (ca. late-1970s):
The Shuttle Data Processing Complex was
the data system at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space
Center used for Shuttle Mission Control. It consisted
of three IBM
System/370 Model 168s as
well as system programs. The hardware and standard software
for the Shuttle Data Processing Complex was supplied by
IBM's Data Processing Division in White Plains, N.Y.
The Space Shuttle General Purpose
Computer was one of
five computers providing navigation and control processing
functions aboard each Shuttle. Each computer consisted
of a central processor (IBM's Advanced System/4 Pi) and
an input/output processor.
The Space Shuttle Display was an electrically-controlled
cathode-ray tube data display and memory facility
associated with the onboard data processing system.
IBM received a contract from Rockwell International
to provide display systems for five orbiters as well
as laboratory, simulator and spare systems.
Onboard Shuttle Programming controlled the data processing
equipment and application programs. IBM developed some
of these programs and provided flight equipment interface
devices.
Launch Processing System. The Shuttle launch and launch
preparation facilities in Florida were supported by a
highly complex test data system designed by IBM.
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