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64 Bits in Space

Posted by michael on from the overclock-your-comsat dept.

HerringFlavoredFowl writes: "Older, slower RAD HARD chips have been the norm in space applications. Acording to this article it looks like MIPS is about to go 64 bits in the far fringes."

1 of 5 comments (clear)

  1. mean temp is very low, but little heat transfer by typical+geek · · Score: 2

    The mean temperature in space is very low, not too many K above absolute zero.

    The problem is that heat transfer in space is also very low, so heat buildup is one of the biggest issues in any spacecraft.

    Heat is commonly transferred by three mechanisms; conduction, convection and radiation. In the vacuum of space, you get no conduction or convection, the only way you can get rid of heat is by radiation. So, it doesn't take too many electronics running to start worrying about overheating.

    Thus, the shuttle flies with it's doors open to expose it's radiators and cool down. Satellites use various esoteric heat tubes and exchangers to remove heat and radiate it to space. Internal operating temperatues end up being -40 to +85 degrees C.