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Q: Rocket Computer Systems & Boeing 747 Jet systems ! ( Answered,   2 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Rocket Computer Systems & Boeing 747 Jet systems !
Category: Computers > Operating Systems
Asked by: trent44-ga
List Price: $25.00
Posted: 29 Apr 2003 19:56 PDT
Expires: 29 May 2003 19:56 PDT
Question ID: 197292
Hi,
I would like too no what language nasa engineers use for createing the
computer systems that control rockets, Also i would like too no what
language they use when creating Jet systems for eg. When the pilot
turns on auto pilot that ovsly is controled by a computer. But what
language is the systems that do it written in?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Rocket Computer Systems & Boeing 747 Jet systems !
Answered By: techtor-ga on 22 May 2003 10:13 PDT
 
Hello trent44,
It looks like the most common answer to your question is Assembly
language.

I found a single source on the Internet that covers the entire history
of computers in spaceflight. It mentions most of the major programs
used by programmer for the space programs. You will also see that
special program languages were created specifically for the space
program. If no language is mentioned, in a program, it is most likely
that assembly languages (there are many types) were used, because they
are among the earliest and the most basic computer languages (from the
machine’s point of view) and can be used for almost all applications.
C, BASIC, COBOL and other lower level languages tend to be not used in
the operation of machinery.

Gemini - 
FORTRAN (For making and testing the control software)
Machine Assembly language

Apollo - 
MAC (MIT Algebraic Compiler)

Skylab - 
Binary, Assembly languages

Space Shuttle - 
HAL/S

On the jet software I had to look quite a bit. 

Boeing 747 -
Assembly languages (mentioned in the ‘Roy Osborn’ search result in the
second to the last search string below; the link and cached page are
dead)
XML (Extensible markup language, for the Atmospheric Instrument
Control; a recent development)


Sources:
Computers in Spaceflight: the NASA Experience - Manned flight
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/Part1.html
- I clicked on the chapter links with ‘software’ in the title.

Computers in Spaceflight: the NASA Experience - Contents page
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/contents.html

Apollo Mission Software
http://www.netjeff.com/humor/item.cgi?file=ApolloComputer

NASA/GSFC: Astronomical Instrument Markup Language (Cached result; the
original link is dead)
http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:VYZj9a80eh0J:pioneer.gsfc.nasa.gov/public/aiml/+boeing+747+control+software+language&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


For an explanation on Assembly Language, here’s Webopedia’s
definition:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/assembly_language.html


Google search strings used:
nasa computer languages
nasa software languages
boeing 747 control software language
autopilot software written language
flight control 747 software language
assembly language definition

I hope this has been a most helpful answer. If you have any problem
with it, do please post a Request for Clarification and I shall
respond. Thank you.
Comments  
Subject: Re: Rocket Computer Systems & Boeing 747 Jet systems !
From: ewek1-ga on 30 Apr 2003 12:02 PDT
 
This probably won't fully answer your question, but it's a good place
to start: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_05/textonly/ps02txt.html
It describes the processes of actually loading the software on the
computer.  I'll repost if I come across any other info.
Subject: Re: Rocket Computer Systems & Boeing 747 Jet systems !
From: ewek1-ga on 30 Apr 2003 12:04 PDT
 
I think this is what you're looking for...I knew I had seen something
on commercial apps in commercial planes
before...http://www.byte.com/art/9601/sec7/art3.htm

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