PROGRAMMABLE TECHNOLOGIES WEB SITE

A scientific study of the problems of digital engineering for space flight systems,
with a view to their practical solution.

September 27, 2000

Pictures

"PLD Hardware and Software in the High-Reliability, High-Safety, and High Security Mission-Critical Environment"

  Peter Alfke, Xilinx Corp.

  Dr. Rod Barto, Spacecraft Digital Electronics

  Sandi Habinc, European Space Agency

  Eldon Hall, MIT Instrumentation Lab

  Mentor Graphics

  Henry Spencer, SP Systems

  John McCollum, Actel Corporation

Back in the 1960's, when asked about the confidence level of the guidance system for the Apollo spacecraft, Doc Draper of MIT's Instrumentation Laboratory expressed his confidence by saying that he would ride in the vehicle [Draper].  It's now the year 2000 and you have been selected for a mission on the Space Shuttle.  Since this vehicle was designed in the 1970's, there are problems with parts obsolescence and two systems must be redesigned with available technology.   These two systems control pyrotechnic initiators (controlled by the on-board computers) and the vehicle destruct mechanism (controlled by the Range Safety Officer).  

Doc Draper Quote:

I would like to volunteer for service as a crew member on the Apollo mission to the moon ... We at the Instrumentation Laboratory are going full throttle on the Apollo guidance work, and I am sure that our endeavors will lead to success ... let me know what application blanks I should fill out ...

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Last Revised: January 09, 2002
Digital Engineering Institute
Web Grunt: Richard Katz