Conference 7.286::digital

    Yes, the camera panned past it on Tues (or was it Wed?) night's
    interview with Gary Sinise on Entertainment Tonight.
    
    Sue

The new Mission Control Center (which went online for the current Mir
mission) is based on Alpha systems running Digital Unix.

Mark

	So they finally upgraded those 11/45's and RP03's

	re: "NEW MISSION CONTROL CENTER BASED ON ALPHA'S WITH DIGITAL UNIX"

	Is there anyway we can use this information to our advantage, 
	"Like tell the world about it"?

	Rick C.

A memo was forwarded to all of us in UEG regarding this project. I'll see if
I can get the author's permission to post it here. Regarding "using" this
information, the memo stated that following the conclusion of the current
mission (which happened today), NASA would be working with Digital to
publicize the new system (including Digital's participation). According to
the memo I believe the prime contractor was Loral.

Mark

And those of you who are Web-enabled and interested in this
should check out the following URL:

	http://shuttle.nasa.gov/orbit/mcontrol/

...especially the Mission Control Hardware section...

Makes this little ol' workstation designer proud... :)

    There's been an Alpha visible at the CAPCOM station for at least
    the last 4 shuttle flights. 

    \john

This is the contents of the page published by NASA to the world at
http://shuttle.nasa.gov/mcc/mcchdware.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           MISSION CONTROL HARDWARE

There are approximately 150 workstations in the new MCC.  The breakdown is
as follows:

36 DEC Alpha 500's
17 DEC Alpha 300's
52 DEC Alpha 300x's
42 DEC Alpha 900's

Total - 147

All workstations in the new MCC are rackmounted within a console housing.

Rackmountable DEC 3000 AXP Workstations and Servers XE
"Rackmountable DEC 3000 AXP Workstations and Servers"

Product Description
Rackmountable DEC 3000 Models 600, 700, and 900 AXP systems are mechanically
reconfigured DEC 3000 AXP desktop and deskside systems. Each system is
front-to-back
cooled and mounts onto chassis slides for easy installation and maintenance. For
space
saving and cost effectiveness, these systems can be configured with other
peripherals and
installed in the cabinet enclosure. Rackmountable DEC 3000 AXP systems have the
same
system configuration rules as the DEC 3000 AXP desktop and deskside systems.

Rackmountable DEC 3000 Models 600, 700, and 900 AXP systems are housed within a
rackmountable chassis for immediate installation into a cabinet enclosure. The
Model 900 AXP deskside system can be field converted to a rackmounted system
by ordering a rackmount hardware kit.  Each system includes a 15-foot power
cord. 240 V systems require a country specific power cord and country kit.

The DEC Alpha 300's, are located in all Multi Purpose Support Rooms (MPSR's)
and serve as second CPU's for the White Flight Control Room

DEC 3000 Model 300X/300LX AXP Desktop Workstations XE
"DEC 3000 Model 300X/300LX AXP Desktop Workstations"

Product Description     The DEC 3000 Model 300X/300LX AXP is a low-cost
workstation designed for demanding applications such as 2D CAD, CASE, software
development, and technical publishing as well as new and emerging technologies,
such as multimedia.

DEC 3000 Model 300X/300LX AXP Base System features include two TURBOchannel
slots and integral high-resolution (1280 x 1024) graphics and on-board audio and
ISDN.
The DEC 3000 Model 300X AXP system uses a 175-MHz CPU with performance of
100 SPECfp92 and 84 SPECint92. The DEC 3000 Model 300LX AXP system uses
a 125-MHz CPU with performance of 75 SPECfp92 and 63 SPECint92.

The system enclosure supports up to 256 Mbytes of memory, and includes brackets
for
two internal devices (3.5-inch hard disk drives or one 3.5-inch hard disk and one
diskette drive). Integral SCSI-2 controller supports two internal drives and up
to five
external devices via a 50-pin high-density SCSI connector. The system enclosure
does
not support an internal CD-ROM or tape drive. An optional Dual SCSI-2 controller
offers
one 10-Mbyte/s Fast SCSI-2 channel and one 5-Mbytes/s SCSI-2 channel for
external storage expansion.

The open TURBOchannel I/O bus, with over 200 options available from Digital and
third-party vendors, provides multiscreen capabilities, additional SCSI,
Ethernet,
FDDI, 3D graphics, and multimedia support.
The Ethernet connection is a 10BaseT interface. Adapters are available to convert
 the 10BaseT interface to AUI or ThinWire. A TURBOchannel slot may be used to
connect FDDI or AUI.
The DEC 3000 Model 300X/300LX AXP workstation offers performance through
design. It uses 64-bit Alpha AXP technology with the DECchip 21064 RISC
microprocessor to ensure an unprecedented level of integration and compatibility
across
the entire platform of Alpha AXP systems.

 The DEC Alpha 900's, which are located in the "White" Flight Control Room
(WFCR) and the Special Vehicles Room (SVO):

DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP Deskside Workstations XE
"DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP Deskside Workstations"
Product Description
The DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP workstation represents the high end of Digital's
Alpha AXP 64-bit architecture workstation family. This workstation extends the
power and range of workstation computing for all business needs.

The Model 900 AXP workstation features a 275-MHz CPU. This is Digital's highest
performance industry-standard deskside workstation, providing 189 SPECint92 and
264 SPECfp92 performance. It is the system of choice for applications that
require
 the fastest CPU performance available, such as financial modeling, structural
analysis,
and electrical simulation.

The Model 900 AXP workstation provides the greatest expansion capability
available
in the industry today. The system supports 100-Mbyte/second I/O and graphics
expansion slots, internal disk storage capacity of over 8 Gbytes and 1 Gbyte of
memory.
A second integral Fast SCSI-2 controller supports seven external devices and a
Dual
Fast SCSI-2 TURBOchannel option supports an additional 14 external storage
devices.
The DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP workstation can be expanded to accommodate the most
powerful 3D graphics requirements. For custom configurations, it is also
available as
a rackmountable workstation.

The DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP workstation is the machine for developing and running
very large data analysis and modeling/simulation programs. It is the ideal
platform for
users who need source code re-compiled and who want to use the same system for
testing
and deployment. The Model 900 suits the needs of technical users who need very
fast
graphics and CPU power for mechanical CAD, scientific analysis, data
reduction/display,
medical imaging, scientific modeling and animation/visualization; and commercial
users
who require large database retrieval such as financial analysis, insurance
processing,
network management and stock/options analysis. Users of older workstations can
easily
migrate to a DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP system.

Step 1 Systems
Select system. 120 V Packaged systems include power cord and U.S. keyboard.
120 V Base systems include power cord; keyboard must be ordered separately.
240 V systems require country-specific power cord and keyboard. Software media
and
documentation is recommended for first system on site. Select software from Step
10,
f required.

Options ordered with Packaged systems will be shipped outside the system
enclosure.
No additions can be made to Packaged systems.

Options ordered with Base systems will be factory installed unless specified as
spares.
Minimum operating system software required is DEC OSF/1 AXP V2.0 or Open
VMS AXP V6.1; or later.
Packaged and Base systems ordered with a disk include factory-installed software
(FIS).
FIS includes the latest version of operating system, DEC Open3D, cluster and
networking
software.
DEC 3000 Model 900 AXP Deskside Systems include
DECchip 21064A 275-MHz CPU with 2-Mbyte secondary cache
TURBOchannel I/O interconnectw6 slots total
64, 128, or 256 Mbytes of memory
Thick wire Ethernet (AUI) connector and 10BaseT (twisted pair) connector
Two Fast SCSI-2 controllers (one internal/one external) with Direct Memory Access
EIA-232 serial communication (synchronous/asynchronous) port
ISDN port
Printer/console port
Audio in/out
Audio headset
Monitor (Packaged systems only)
U.S. keyboard, 120 V Packaged systems only. Base systems must order keyboard.
Three-button mouse
1.8-meter (6-foot) power cord, 120 V systems
3-meter (10-foot) video cable
3-meter (10-foot) keyboard/mouse cable
DEC OSF/1 AXP 2-user base license, DEC Open3D license, DEC PHIGS runtime license,
MME runtime license, DECspin audio license, NAS 250 license or
OpenVMS AXP base license, OpenVMS AXP 1-user license, DEC Open3D license,
DEC PHIGS runtime license, NAS 250 license
English-language user documentation

                    ----------------------------------------
                              Curator: Ervin Grice
                   Responsible NASA Official: Kelly Humphries

    Speaking of "Did I hear/see that right...?"
    Has anybody else heard a radio commercial for Tatoo America that
    touts the use of Alpha-powered PC's to do something or other?
    No kidding.

    I heard the commercial too.  Something about twin 64bit Alphas used
    to render 'anything' into body art.
    
    I missed most of it because my jaw was on the floor....
    
    

	Glad someone else saw those login screens.  I thought I was 
	just wishfully thinking.  When it finally dawned on me that I 
	had just seen a Digital logo on a screen, I didn't see any more.
	I didn't want to ask here as I thought Entertainment Tonight 
	interviews might have been on movie set, not real Mission Control.

	Anyway, here is Mission Control Sales Team report from the 
	SPACE notes.

	Dave 

               <<< UPSAR::USER$411:[NOTES$LIBRARY]SPACE.NOTE;1 >>>
                             -< Space Exploration >-
================================================================================
Note 925.61               STS-71 (Atlantis) MIR Docking                 61 of 88
FRASER::FRASER "Jim Fraser"                          97 lines  29-JUN-1995 13:00
                 -< Launch, docking handled by DEC computers >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<forwardings removed ... >

Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 01:50:29 -0400
From:
granit::mrgate::"usrdc1::dpdmai::a1::renteria.anita"@granit.ENET.dec.com
To: @Distribution_List
Subject: New Digital Mission Control Center Goes LIVE!

From:   NAME: Anita F. Renteria
        FUNC: SALES
        TEL: 441-3567                         <RENTERIA.ANITA@A1@DPD05@DLO>
To:     See Below
CC:     See Below

To All:

If you are on this distribution list, it is because you played a key role
in selling, delivering, or solving a problem in the Control Center
Consolidation Platform contract that Digital won with Loral Space
Information Systems in August, 1993.  That $10 million dollar, five year
contract was to replace the 30 year old Mission Control Center at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Over the past two years we have delivered $6.6 million in revenue off the
contract alone, which represents 484 Alpha AXP/Digital Unix systems.
Non-contract hardware and software in support of the MCC is approximately
$4 million incremental.  We have achieved our goal of becoming the dominant
vendor at Loral Space Information Systems, and within the Mission
Operations Directorate at NASA/JSC.  We have even sold systems to the
Russian Space Agency with this contract!

As of yesterday, June 27, 1995 at aproximately 2:40pm CST, STS-71 has
successfully launched. The shuttle Atlantis, carrying a crew of seven has
begun her 10+ day mission to dock with the Russian Space Station MIR.  It
is historical for a number of reasons:

        1-      It is the 100th Shuttle Mission
        2-      It is only the second time in history we will dock
                with the Russians; the first time was 1975.
        3-      We'll be picking up Dr. Norm Thagard, who has
                been on-board the MIR since March, and dropping off
                a couple of Cosmonauts.
        AND

        4-      It is the first flight for the NEW Control Center.

This, my friends and colleagues, is our first mission.  The Mission Control
Center is, as I type, running on the systems and software we installed.  We
believed our first mission was going to be the infamous "woodpecker" launch
on June 9, during which the old control center would have done most of the
work (launch, satellite deployment, landing) and we would have monitored
only the orbit.  That would have been a nice 'get your feet wet' kind of
mission.  But since that didn't happen, this is our first, made even more
daunting by the fact that the NEW control center is the ONLY one capable of
handling the docking.  All of the training and preparation are on Alpha
systems, so there is no backup.  It's all or nothing.  The actual docking
is set for Thursday, and the Commander must bring the orbiter within 3
inches of the MIR to succeed. Please keep thoughts and prayers for a safe,
successful mission going for the next ten days!

A successful landing will mark the proudest moment of my 11 year career at
Digital.  I can not express the emotions I feel--the blood and sweat and
tears that were poured into making this contract a success overwhelm me. 
Each of you is responsible in some way for this monumental achievement.  I
have been consistently amazed at the depth of professionalism, the
dedication to providing a quality response to this critical customer that
has been shown whenever you were called upon.  Loral has expressed to me
their appreciation for Digital, and has complimented the great strides
we've made in response since the beginning of this contract.  We've
achieved the status of "Team member" as opposed to "Vendor", and it could
not have happened without each of you.  I have the deepest gratitude and
respect for you all, and am proud to be Digital's representative to Loral.

As a result of our success, Loral and JSC have been made successful.  The
Director of NASA's Control Center Systems Division, John Muratore, has
assured me that he will be happy to give Digital public credit once we've
succeeded with this mission, and that the whole world will know that Alpha
is the new MCC.  If you have Web access, I encourage you to look up NASA's
homepage. There are pictures of the control center there, and reading the
'MCC HARDWARE' section is like reading the Digital Systems and Options
Catalog.  It's very rewarding to know that the MCC you see on television
for the next (hopefully!) 30 years will be ours.

In September, we will assume ascent/descent responsibility.  And if all
goes according to schedule, we will unplug the old control center forever
in December of this year, and it will become a museum.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, my friends and colleagues. Be very, very
proud of yourselves, and of our company.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Sincerely,

Anita Renteria
Account Manager
Loral Space Information Systems

       ... kinda lends new meaning to the phrase ".GIFfed whores" ...
       

    Last week, the Worcester paper had an article about Digital systems
    being used by NASA for the shuttle.
    
    Mark

    two thoughts:
    
    probably a handful of their current Alpha's have the same compute power
    as the whole JSC did back in the old days (early Apollo).
    
    If our PC's were a nice *different* colour than other computer mfgers'
    (ala NeXT workstations), we would be a lot more visible.  Why don't we
    make the shells in a nice bright or dull red ('little red bricks' - get
    it?).  Anyone in mktg out there? :^)
    
    Doug
    
    p.s.  congrats on the successful switchover and mission

    I believe it was the April issue of "Rolling Stone" that did an
    interview with John Muratore. On of the points that he made was that
    the school cumputer department that he came from had more compute power
    that the old control center. The interview was very good. The name of
    the interview was "Lost in Space"
    
    regards
    jimk

	I think my Apple Newton has more computer power than the old
	MCC. (Apollo era)

							mike

    if .16 and .17 are directionally correct, it appears to me that with
    today's tech. we should be doing some proportionately awesome things in
    space.  I guess these things take time and we are experiencing the law
    of diminishing returns (my favourate economic principle).
    
    Doug

>    if .16 and .17 are directionally correct, it appears to me that with
>    today's tech. we should be doing some proportionately awesome things in
>    space.
    
    Or perhaps computational power is not the only variable in space
    exploration.  Don't forget propulsion technology, available funds,
    determination of the society to play the game, and a thousand other
    things.
    
>    I guess these things take time and we are experiencing the law
>    of diminishing returns (my favourate economic principle).
    
    That certainly seems part of things, too.  Maybe it applies to *all*
    the things I mentioned or hinted at above, when creatively interpreted.
    Basically, our society no longer see the value of proportional
    investment of money, time, and attention.  We got to the moon, there is
    no Cold War, we've become disenchanted with unfulfilled promises from
    government, science, media, everybody.
    
    I'm not *advocating* these views, just commenting on their presence
    and presumed prevalence in society today.
    
    -Mark

    
    In Sunday's Washington Post (7/16), pg A3:
    
    	'Houston` of Space Flight History Catches Up With Look of Future
    
    	 Nasa's Mission Control Gets a Technological Boost, Image Lift
    
    	...goes on to detail the new mission control and mentions Digital
    	   twice, once in the article and in the captions beneath photos!

by the way the URL mentioned in .7 has changed to:


http://shuttle.nasa.gov/sts-70/orbit/mcontrol/

or you could just start off with 

http://shuttle.nasa.gov/


Phil