Space Operations: NASA Efforts to Develop and Deploy Advanced Spacecraft Computers
Abstract
On February 29, 1988, we briefed your office on the results of our preliminary. work on the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) development and deployment of spacecraft computers. At that time we agreed to continue our work and report on (1) the capabilities of NASA's existing spacecraft computers; (2) NASA and Defense programs to develop advanced, general-purpose, space-qualified computers; and (3) the type of primary computer system NASA plans to use in the Data Management System on-board the space station. This report provides that information and discusses the challenges that NASA faces in building and deploying computers for its spacecraft. The report notes that by the time a LUA spacecraft is launched, the computers inside the craft are outdated. Generally, it takes 8 to 20 years from the time computer technology is available on the ground to when it is deployed in space. Various reasons exist for this situation. We noted that if NASA could shorten this lag time, it could significantly increase spacecraft capabilities for collecting scientific data and possibly decrease the costs of future missions. The report recommends that NASAS Administrator should consider further strengthening the agency's ongoing activities by establishing an independent expert panel to comprehensively examine the process by which advanced spacecraft computers are developed and deployed, and determine the further steps that could be taken to shorten the process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- AD1177463
Entities
People
- Allan Roberts
- Jeffery N Webster
- Ralph H Hamilton
- Ralph V. Carlone
- Ronald W. Beers
- Samuel W. Bowlin
- Stephen A. Schwartz
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office