-
Shuttles/Rockets
-
The ships themselves use computers for guidance, but the processing chips are actually quite slow. Since a spacecraft computer doesn't have to do a lot of quick calculations -- just enough to keep itself on a generally accurate course toward space -- it doesn't need a powerful chip. In fact, a high-speed processor sucks a lot of energy, which is precious on spaceships that have limited space for energy storage and need all of it to do other tasks.
Space Probes
-
Space probes use computers to gather scientific data, process it and store it. They face a difficult problem in that the computers they host generate heat which can't be dissipated by fans or liquid cooling in the vacuum of space. Many probes use old tape drives for data storage, as most modern hard drives won't work in space.
Satellites
-
Satellites also use basic computers for guidance and other basic tasks, as most of the technology is in their sensors and antennas. Companies are more concerned with the reliability of a satellite and don't want to have to replace it because of a computer malfunction, and prefer to host most computational power on the ground. However, as the cost of launching satellites drops, companies may opt for greater computational power on a satellite in the future, leading to space-based data servers, for example.
Crews
-
International Space Station crews use modern laptop computers for a number of different tasks, such as payload management, navigation, avionics and support. As of March 2011, the space station had 119 laptop computers, which control a variety of platforms. The laptops usually last about three or fours years. Getting new laptops can be a tricky and expensive proposition, since testing new hardware for space and delivering it to the space station are time-consuming processes.
-
What Are Computers Used for in Space?
Many think of a spacecraft as an ultramodern vehicle loaded with the
latest in modern computing that would put household computers to shame.
However, due to the difficulty of operating computer hardware in the
vacuum of space and the very limited amount of energy available aboard a
spacecraft, most space computers are actually basic and decades old,
only performing the simplest of functions.