NASA mission to Pluto aided by classic computing.

[Mike Gemeny]

SIMH, The Computer History Simulation Project, The HP2000 simulation, and the 8102 based Cosmac Elf Restoration provide NASA with valuable lessons learned, impacting the longevity planning which is expected to help insure the success of the mission to Pluto.

As we indulge ourselves with our interest in classic or retro-computing we often find ourselves having to explain to family, friends, or co-workers why we have this interest. From time to time we have an opportunity make a positive impact on current or future technology. I believe this is one such example.

Below is a link for a paper published by NASA, which chronicles the results, pitfalls and lessons learned form the successful resurrection of two computing systems from the 1970s, The Cosmac Elf, and the HP2000.

The lessons learned from these two efforts had a significant impact on the longevity planning efforts for the New Horizons mission to Pluto, scheduled for launch tomorrow, Jan 17, 2006.

http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/RCSGSO/Proceedings/Paper/A0053Paper.pdf

As a side note, a Yahoo group has sprung up around the HP2000 simulation. It can be found at the following URL.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hp2000family/

The Cosmac Elf Users Group can be found at:

http://homepage.mac.com/ruske/cosmacelf/

The Computer History Simulation Project and SIMH can be found here:

http://simh.trailing-edge.com/

Enjoy,

Mike Gemeny