According to the official
site, there are 3 types of computers available at NASA. These systems have
different specifications and distinct differences that need to be
considered before buying one. Some of them include workstations, laptops,
servers, and ruggedized mobile PCs among others. So, we will see what kind of product NASA uses for its daily projects.
Which type of Computer is used in NASA?
1. Workstations
A workstation is one of the most
commonly used computing devices in NASA because it helps many scientists do
some calculations, conduct simulations, share files or make presentations. The
average price of this type of system ranges from $900 to $1100 per unit. It’s
an excellent option when you want your project to remain simple and easy for
any person to understand. Its key features include two displays, keyboard,
mouse, and a monitor with integrated speakers. This device has very high speed
as well as low power usage thus making operations quicker and easier to handle.
Due to its size, the workstation is quite large (about 7.5. feet long) and
heavy making it cumbersome. You are advised not to leave it unattended while
working on your tasks as the internal components might break down due to its
weight. A typical user needs about 1-2 hours to complete all work or programs
but it also requires attention from others like the users who are responsible
for maintenance work. However, the performance of these machines depends upon
the operating system installed in the machine. For instance, if you use
Microsoft Windows OS then such a system could be more efficient than other
options like Ubuntu Linux as they perform better. If you choose Mac OS, Google
Chrome, etc., then you would experience lower performance as compared with
windows. This is why NASA prefers using Microsoft Windows OS for workstations
as it comes pre-installed with several applications and utilities that can help
users keep up in productivity.
2. Laptops
The second choice is laptop since
it is relatively less expensive than workstations although it still offers
great performance. With the rising demand for scientific research it became
extremely rare to find people willing to buy a desktop which only takes 2 to 6
hours to boot up. With the increasing number of students who prefer working
from home rather than going to school, finding a suitable device was
increasingly becoming difficult to achieve. Also, some manufacturers like
Lenovo, Apple, HP, Dell, etc. offer good deals on laptops, so users are forced
to consider various alternatives and choose the right one. Many organizations
such as MIT, Harvard University, and Cambridge University among others are
using laptops to run their experiments and studies. As compared to
workstations, this type of equipment is extremely lightweight; yet, it delivers
powerful and more reliable performance. Moreover, you can get access to apps
that are helpful for various applications. Another reason why NASA chose the
laptop over desktops is its compact size which makes it convenient to carry
around. Hence, it is recommended for every student who wants to continue their
education even after college. One should select laptops with maximum RAM and
storage space which can store multiple tabs simultaneously and also provide
enough screen space for effective multitasking. Moreover, laptops can connect to
USB ports for data transfer but you must install software called iWork for
managing USB connections. It works efficiently by enabling you to manage both
network and peripheral devices at once. Furthermore, because of its portable
nature, you can carry it anywhere without losing anything as needed to do your
assignments. While traveling you might also want to take with you a few copies
of your documents. Therefore, it is advised to always purchase a laptop that
comes with sufficient storage space and memory to support your tasks. Apart
from laptops, another type of computer is server which is used to store and
process information in real-time. Unlike laptops which come with limited RAM
storage space, servers perform better as they have additional room. They offer
much faster processing speeds as compare to laptops as they can process large
amounts of data at once. To operate servers, you need to install a robust
operating system like Windows Server 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013,
and 2016. As opposed to laptops, servers can go for higher prices. Thus,
depending on how advanced you are when it comes to science, you will have to
spend more money to purchase a server. But once you start utilizing them,
especially with certain companies, it becomes economical. However, depending
upon the capabilities of your organization, you may require high costs due to
their high prices.
3. Robotic Mobile Devices
When talking about the last type
of computer, robotic mobile devices, it refers to those items that make life
more convenient. Although it isn’t widely believed to be necessary, robots
actually can enhance our lives by doing routine activities that humans cannot.
In addition, robots are very useful in performing hazardous tasks that people
can’t do. Even though we can create them, they seem so farfetched and
unrealistic that many think that this technology is never going to become
reality. Yet, here we are witnessing the gradual progress of robotics that
shows promise for enhancing human lives through automation. There is no doubt
that if robots are able to replace humans then our future is bright. Here’s the
list of the top 5 robotic technologies that NASA uses for day-to-day business
operation.
1. Spacecraft navigation
This system allows satellites of
different sizes are constantly floating on the Earth’s orbit and communicating
with each other through signals. Since NASA is planning new missions, it
frequently sends out satellite images. Navigation satellite is used mainly by
pilots or astronauts so that they know where to land or explore new places.
Once the pilot/ astronaut locates the intended place they need to enter into it
via control terminal and monitor it during their journey. On its part, this
process happens periodically and hence it’s referred as spacecraft navigation.
Besides controlling spacecraft, spacecraft navigation is also important for
tracking natural resources and weather patterns. NASA often uses SAR satellites
to track changes in climate change over time. By obtaining this map they can accurately
predict where to focus their efforts next.
2. Communication Satellite System
Communication satellites are
primarily used for communications between different parts of earth’s surface as
well as across continents. Being the largest objects orbiting the Earth,
communication satellites are used because they allow the monitoring of global
health trends, pollution levels, and economic growth in the world. Other
reasons include getting information to remote locations and exploring new
destinations. Sometimes, these satellites are carried out by rockets and hence
they are known as launch or rocket communication satellites. They can be found
almost everywhere in different states like Los Angeles, Washington DC, Sydney
etc. Because GPS coordinates are easily accessible via voice commands, most
communications satellites are equipped with sophisticated antennas. Moreover,
satellites can detect any moving object that comes closer such as cars, planes,
airplanes, etc. by analyzing their radio waves with huge capacity. It’s been
seen that if these satellites were launched back to earth the US air traffic
could be affected. But nowadays, the internet is fast growing so it would be
impossible to rely on satellite services due to an overwhelming amount of
content. At times when the satellites are in low orbit their location is
dependent upon the strength and direction of the wind that blows or the current
position of the sun. If the winds blow away, then their course will also shift
and hence sometimes it affects the direction of their movements. That means if
our flights stop abruptly, this is not the fault of the satellites as they are
perfectly designed to cope with such circumstances. Similarly, if we lose
connection with the internet we can’t be sure that we’ve lost the ability to
communicate with our loved ones due to the failure of internet signals. This is
just one example of the benefits of satellite communication.
3. Radar Communications
Radar communication is a form of
communication that utilizes radar signals sent across different distances via
microwaves. Each time the microwave receives a signal it records it, filters it
by comparing it with an already stored database of previous microwave
transmitters, finds out how strong the signal is, and then gives us results.
When the transmission of microwaves reaches outer space, a receiver detects the
received signal. Then it compares it with data stored elsewhere. As a result,
the sending station’s ground control center can determine exactly where the
incoming signal came from, and send directions to reach them.
4. Spinning Electron Device
Spinning electron devices or
microelectron devices, also referred to as micromachines or MEMS, have existed
for 20 years now. Initially, people were scared of microelectron devices
because they weren’t clear in terms of functionality but time showed that these
devices were really capable of doing remarkable things like saving batteries of
cell phones and even delivering food. Microelectron devices are extremely tiny
devices manufactured in miniature (100 microns or smaller), usually using
integrated circuits of silicon or germanium. Micromachines can send electric
impulses to sensors by manipulating electrons. When we send an impulse the
microelectron spins around and releases electrical charge which travels towards
the receiver. Microelectron devices usually consist of four main elements;
electrodes, interconnecting wires, sensors, and motors.
5. Telepresence Projector Systems
While creating telepresence video
games, designers, developers, programmers, audio technicians, engineers,
researchers, and directors utilize special software developed using
high-definition technology for displaying video images. Usually, we see the
screens and the characters appear when you point your camera towards the
display screen when moving it up or down. Normally one uses either headphones,
microphone, headset to hear a movie. All of these technologies are essential
when playing this game. Today, virtual and augmented reality technologies are
increasingly replacing traditional video production. Instead of viewing video
footage, artists can put themselves inside a character with motion-based
controllers or wear goggles and see everything happening around them. They
don’t see light or color but feel.
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