What workstation desktop laptop systems are used at NASA?
Jul 26, 2019

Workstation desktop laptop systems are an integral part of NASA

NASA would not have reached this position without computers to their aid. Evolution of computers, in short, added wings to NASA to fly to space. From mainframes to Thinkpad and Notepad now has helped NASA calculate and design in a better fashion. Computers are used in both manned and unmanned spacecraft in NASA. The computers have been the reason for the speedy growth of space exploration programs in recent times.

NASA deals with complicated calculations and visual representation of miles in the space. The need is to have high performance and good compute abilities of the workstation to calculate in microseconds and to display in visuals. The time is precious when you calculating the fuel efficiency with respect to travel in space. Accurate calculations and fast display of the results are a must in NASA. So, heavy-duty workstations can serve the need at NASA.

NASA needs a different set of the configuration of computers for the ones in the space station and other for the ones onboard the space shuttles. The space station is found to use HP and Dell computers though only one type of computer that is IBMThinkPad is onboard the space shuttle. Since, 1995 IBM ThinkPad is used consistently on space shuttles as they pass radiation testing, off-gas testing, thermal testing, fire & fire suppression.

NASA uses high-end computer facilities for storage, networking, visualization, and analysis. As data analytics and computation form, the basis of their work at NASA the high-end portals need to satisfy the storage of data and quick calculation. Remote visualization is the key to all the jobs at NASA. Quick and clear display of the data and pictorial representation on the screen gains importance while selectingthe configuration and models of workstations and laptops for NASA

Astronauts onboard use two kinds of systems. They are

  • Portable Computer System (PCS)
  • Station Support Computer (SSC)

Portable Computer SystemThe portable computer system (PCS) is the interface for communication with space ship’s computer systems.

nasa computer and workstation

Station Support Computer (SSC) is for office use and personal use purposes.

Above we have come across HP, Dell and IBM workstations being part of NASA. The question arises does NASA uses Apple Computers?

Yes, they do use Apple computers. As per Robert Frost – Instructor and Flight Controller at NASA “Apple computers are quite common at the more research-oriented centers and very much less common at the operations-oriented centers.”

Going with recent technology growth at HP, NASA has taken on 120 HP ZBook Workstations to the International Space Station. The HP ZBook is designed to regularly monitor the physical and mental health of the astronauts in space. With high performance, HP workstations will be part of the mission command and control functions, life support and critical functions. The HP technology will be supporting 500 experiments in space every year on ISS to serve humanity to detect the unknown in space.

HP models such as HP ZBook, HP Z8 G4, HP Z840, HP Z820 workstations are built for top-line power, flexibility, optimum simulation, 8K video editing along with security software like hp workstation Client Security Suite and HP Sure Start which are first of their kind for self-healing BIOS and intrusion detection.

High-end workstations are available both in rack and tower formats. Assisted with two Intel ® Xeon® processors with 44 cores, it stands out in the computer workstation market in rendering, simulation and advanced computation calculations.

Global Nettech rents and sells high-end Dell and HP workstations in both tower and rack formats. Dell Precision t7920, T7910, T7600 have proven to perform better than previous generations with high visual clarity and speed. The HP models mentioned above are also available at Global Nettech. You can personalize these high-end workstations to suit your work purpose and accelerate your business growth. Still thinking? Just pick the phone and call +91 903 601 0005 now.