NASA Shuts Down Last Mainframe, Signals End of an Era

[amk-aka-Phantom]

So what are they going to use instead, huh? iPads? :lol:

 

[Guest]

Before anyone else goes off on another "spending on space exploration is a zillion times more productive than defense spending" maybe you should consider that the rockets that took us to the moon were directly descended from the V-2. Also, consider that military research has brought about huge advances in aviation, the development of radar, sonar, and the list goes on. I'm all for space exploration, but it's pretty short-sighted to think that cutting defense to pay for it is a good idea.

 

[lordstormdragon]

[citation][nom]stratplaya[/nom]Please tell me they're not going to personal computers for their IS needs. Mission critical applications should not be run on a PC or MAC.[/citation]

You got one thing right and two things wrong here, son. A Mac (only the first letter is capitalized) is a Personal Computer, Ad-Campaign-Boy. What you meant was, "on Windows or Mac OS", of course. In which case, you're half right. Your other error would be in thinking that there are secret ultra-powerful computers to which NASA might have access to that most consumers don't. Or that NASA projects are somehow more complex or math-intensive than, say, high-end CGI work. Keep reading up around the site, New Guy.

NASA has been running Windows since 3.1, pal. This doesn't make them crappy scientists and researchers: their blatant disregard for science itself makes them crappy scientists and researchers.

 

[memadmax]

The thing about running NASA stuff in space with PC's has already been done: Lots of, well just about everything on the International Space Station runs on WinXP =D

 

[cookoy]

[citation][nom]mad tech[/nom]imagine getting a BSOD in Space[/citation]

ROFL. Cheers mad tech!

 

[IndignantSkeptic]

When your country gets taken over by another one because you had nothing to defend yourself with, that space program you're so proud of is going to look pretty useless.

I think it is a stretch to describe the primary purpose of NASA as "for the betterment of mankind." Teflon, Tang and velcro are all nice inventions, but hardly worth the budget that NASA has had to invent them if as you claim, NASA's purpose is to better mankind. NASA, itself, has done very little beyond generating jingoistic pride when it comes to having any sort of significant impact on human lives.

NASA has done some very interesting and amazing things, and there is absolutely a place for it in our national budget, but don't kid yourself about bettering mankind. It's not doing that. At least it hasn't yet.

If humanity doesn't bother to look at and try to move things around space then when a large asteroid heads towards Earth, we will be totally screwed. Just because it doesn't happen very often doesn't mean it can't happen. I'd say getting into a position where we can avert that disaster, qualifies as being for the betterment of mankind. Wouldn't you?

 

[Belardo]

[citation][nom]kinggremlin[/nom]When your country gets taken over by another one because you had nothing to defend yourself with, that space program you're so proud of is going to look pretty useless.[/citation]Why you look like an idiot.
The annual whole budget of NASA is less than the amount the US Govt. spent per year on A/C in Iraq and Afgan. (mind you, keep our troops cool as much as possible) So considering how severely under-funded NASA is, they are quite visible and create jobs, technology and knowledge.

Second: combine the military budget/capabilities of Russia, China, UK, N.Korea, Australia, Germany, France - and they don't equal the USA. We have a military empire... Why do we need more carriers?

 

[hardcore_gamer]

[citation][nom]Zingam[/nom]Next news: "NASA buying 5436644545 iPad 3 for computational intensive tasks", then "NASA uses iPhone 5 to launch a spaceship for Pluto".[/citation]

Can it play space pr0n ?

 

[keyanf]

Actually, it probably can't play Crysis due to OS and lack of any serious graphics component.

 

[Dogsnake]

I do hope the sink it of the Fla. coast as it will make a great starter for reef re-growth. Now the electrical energy use will also be cut by about 300%. But really if you do not have any current programs (since you are not funded) why keep any equipment you might use in the future? It is better for the economy and the workers in congressional districts to refit the agency needs if it ever get the money to run programs again (ooops almost forgot all the new stuff is made in China, rofl). "To go where no man has ever gone before".

 

[Guest]

I guess the Russians won the space race.

 

[rebel1280]

You will be sorely missed NASA, you brought many a dream to children everywhere. Inspired many movies and provided major innovations in your time. Now for all the mainframes they had, they could probably have also done the same amount of work out a new maxed out quad socket Xeon 2U Dell server and still had room to run VMWare server to run test VM environment (and hide the ever so famous counterstrike server every IT department has for break time )

 

[kentlowt]

I pretty much lost faith in NASA when they started pushing the Global Warming BS. I trust the military more than I trust them now.

 

[guruofchem]

@kingGremlin - nice job picking the LEAST useful products that have come out of NASA over the years. Even looking at direct invention and innovation doesn't tell the whole tale, as it is impossible to quantify how much collateral impact the space program had in inspiring folks to enter technical and engineering fields. Oh, and that PC you used to post this message might still be the size of a Volkswagen had not the need for smaller computers to fit into capsules pushed manufacturers to make smaller integrated circuits. Cease the straw man arguments that only expose your ignorance...

 

[Guest]

...And then HAL opened an E-mail titled: "I Love you" ...

 

[robochump]

Funny thing is that tech is going towards cloud which is essence is a new twist on mainframe/node configuration.

@Mad tech - This is why all vital systems on space craft such as space shuttle were very simple and basically a series of on/off switches with little to no software required. BSOD only happened to MS laptops astronauts brought with them...lol.

 

[Belardo]

Many of NASA's (and other commercial) probes / satellites are still using MC68000 class CPUs because they don't need 4Ghz CPUs. The older tech is more reliable and can handle the harsh environment of space better than the latest and greatest.

 

[livebriand]

[citation][nom]keyanf[/nom]Actually, it probably can't play Crysis due to OS and lack of any serious graphics component.[/citation]
lol... 54 2600Ks, 512GB memory, 50 512GB SSDs in raid 0, one radeon 6450. "The ultimate gaming machine, with ATI Radeon graphics." (not too much of an exaggeration from what you see sold in retail stores as gaming machines...)

 

[Combat Wombat]

pahahahahaha

[citation][nom]zorky9[/nom]I bet that can still play Crysis.[/citation]

 

[svdb]

[citation][nom]kinggremlin[/nom]When your country gets taken over by another one because you had nothing to defend yourself blah blah blah...[/citation] When was the last time the USA got taken over?

Lets clean it up, and stay on topic
JDJ

 

[kronos_cornelius]

I don't know what the difference between a server and a minframe is. What is the difference ?

 

[svdb]

[citation][nom]kronos_cornelius[/nom]I don't know what the difference between a server and a minframe is. What is the difference ?[/citation]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer

 

[del35]

The massive, 6-year-old 2094-s54 model has 54 main processors and 512 GB of memory

Hey the latest iPhone still has 512 GB of ram...

 

[aries1470]

del35 02/19/2012 5:52 PM

Quote :The massive, 6-year-old 2094-s54 model has 54 main processors and 512 GB of memory

Hey the latest iPhone still has 512 GB of ram...

You mean MB.. it is MegaBytes, not GigaBytes ;-) give them 10 to 20 years, and maybe, just maybe on an iPhone 15 or iPhone 55, they may put that amount of RAM 🙂

 

[Guest]

See what Chuck Norris can do with it.