A System of Software for the TRIAD Flight Computer.

Abstract

The TRIAD satellite provided APL with its first opportunity to fly a general-purpose digital computer. The paper presents the system of software that was written to develop, test, and operate the APL-designed TRIAD computer. After a description of the machine's real-time flight requirements and its physical properties, the major software projects are discussed. These include the formulation of: Programming language, called ARTIC, and an associated assembler; special-purpose diagnostic and utility programs; a real-time simulation of the expected satellite hardware environment; an in-flight operating system, called LDR, capable of coping with various real-time operational demands. Lastly, the actual performance and utility of the computer after launch is summarized. TRIAD exemplifies the value of a small, programmable computer in managing and supporting complex satellite missions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0766455

Entities

People

  • H. K. Utterback
  • M. R. Newcomer
  • R. S. Yuhasz

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Simulators
  • Digital Computers
  • Environment
  • Language
  • Operating Systems
  • Physical Properties
  • Programming Languages
  • Simulations
  • Simulators

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers