The CPU installed in NASA 's Orion is at the same level as the Apple iBook G3 in 2003

NASA's new spaceship that takes over after the space shuttle and sets the final target for manned exploration to MarsOrion"Succeeded the first flight test (EFT - 1) successfully, the curtain of the new era of the American space exploration opened. However, I know that the CPU installed in that Orion is the same as the CPU installed in the Mac over 10 years ago.

Nasa's Orion has same processor as 2003 Apple iBook G3 | Daily Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2867009/How-phone-powerful-ORION-Computer-Nasa-s-Mars-spacecraft-processor-2003-Apple-iBook-G3.html

NASA 's new spacecraft Orion was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base (CCAS) in Florida on 5 December 2014. The state of Launch of Orion can be confirmed in the following movie.

Liftoff of Orion - YouTube


Orion mounted on the Delta IV heavy rocket makes one round of the earth, the second engine of the rocket ignites and reaches the maximum altitude of 5,800 kilometers. After circling the planned track, it reentered into the atmosphere and on December 6, 2014 arrived in the Pacific Ocean off California, succeeded in flight test (EFT - 1) successfully.


You can see how Orion slowly falls with parachute in the following movie.

Watch NASA's Orion splash down in the Pacific Ocean - YouTube


US NavyUSS AnchorageOrion which is raised to.


At the time of entering the atmosphere, it reaches a high temperature exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius so you can clearly see traces like burned.


The success of EFT-1 by Orion, which took over space development from the space shuttle, is a historical first step of the new space ship and it seems to be said that it is said to be one step closer to the spectacular dream of realizing manned exploration to Mars by 2030 .


However, the CPU that is the "brain" of the new spacecraft Orion, which is supposed to receive the expectations of the entire world and receives the highest technology unmindedly, has been installed in Apple 's iBook G3 since 2003 "PowerPC 750 FXIt is said that it is adopted. This processing speed of PowerPC 750FX is smartphoneGalaxy S3It is about the same level as SoC mounted on. That is,Apollo spacecraftThere is a famous story that it was a powerless computing capability than a calculator, but this composition was reproduced also in Orion.


The biggest reason why Orion has adopted less powerful CPU class than the latest smartphone is "reliability". In other words, in the harsh outer space exposed to many cosmic rays it is judged that the chips older than the latest chip are less likely to cause trouble. According to NASA, Orion's CPU loses even the latest smartphone is 4000 times the Apollo spacecraft, 400 times the space shuttle, and 25 times faster than the CPU currently used in the International Space Station.


Also, Orion's CPU can restart in about 20 seconds when trouble occurs. In addition, Orion has a triple security system including two backup CPUs in preparation for a possible failure, and the probability of falling into an emergency situation requiring three restarts at the same time is 1 / We are proud of the guard.


The data obtained by EFT - 1 will be used for future Orion development, and the next flight test "EM - 1" will be launched with a new rocketSpace Launch System (SLS)It is scheduled for November 2018 after 4 years using. Once the EM - 1 is over, the manned flight test is about to begin.