The modern digital computer has been fundamental to the space exploration program.

Computers have profoundly affected almost every aspect of space technology, including spacecraft design, celestial mechanics, mission control, and the gathering and processing of data generated by the spacecraft. Indeed, the evolution and growth of computer technology is suggestively parallel to the growth in space technology.

Space The role of computers in space exploration

The largest use of computers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is in the real-time processing of spacecraft data for command and control purposes; we refer to this process as Space Flight Operations. The use of computers has increased the accuracy and speed with which the spacecraft and its subsystems can be designed. Using computer techniques to explore a whole spectrum of design possibilities, design parameters can be selected quickly and precisely. The result is a materially increased performance. Without sacrifices in cost, reliability, or schedule, the application of computers results in a spacecraft which will send back more and higher-quality scientific data regarding conditions in space As an incidental aside, it is interesting to note that our Mariner-Mars spacecraft contained four digital computers. These were used for science data handling, engineering data handling, command processing, and command sequencing. CONCLUDING REMARKS In summary, we find that the computer has touched almost every phase of the Space Exploration Program. Spacecraft design is now based on computer analyses, and the result is a better spacecraft; furthermore, a steadily increasing portion of the design process is being carried out by the computer. In celestial mechanics, the effect of computers ehas been dramatic. And in space flight operations, all data gathered by the spacecraft are processed by computers Indeed, the number of computers we will shortly have serially in the data stream is startling; counting computers in the spacecraft, at the tracking sites, in the communication link from site to SFOF, and at the SFOF, we will have up to 10 computers handling the data. The role of computers in semitechnical and nontechnical areas has also been vital. Computers are used for configuration management, budget preparation, inventory controlthe list is endless. Turning to the future, we are looking forward to the attractive features offered by the new generation of computersthe much-needed increases in capacity, speed, memory, reliability, and ease of programming.

However, the impact of computers on basic technology is likely to have the most significant future effect on the space program. When I was a student, a large part of the technology was devoted to problem-solving methodology. Today much of this methodology is becoming obsolete. The new methodology, based on fundamental principles and the computer, makes possible the ready treatment of larger systems. Instead of having to analyze the relationship between resistor A and resistor B, the engineer may treat the relationship between circuit A and circuit B, or system A and system B. The viewpoint is less microscopic, and more macroscopic. For example, we are beginning to treat system characteristics, such as cost and reliability, as design parameters. Thus the symbols by which the technology is represented, and hence our way of thinking, are being changed by the modern digital computer.