An On-Board Processor for OAO-C

• Main Authors: Trevathan, C. E., Hartenstein, R. G., Taylord, T. D.
• Other Authors: Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
• Language: en_US
• Published: International Foundation for Telemetering 1969
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/606662; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/606662

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / September 15-17, 1969 / Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. === This paper describes the design of a stored program computer for spacecraft use and its application on the fourth Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-C). The computer, referred to as OBP-2, is a medium scale, parallel machine and has a memory capacity of 16,384 words of 18 bits each. It possesses a comprehensive instruction repertoire and operates on 45 watts of power (including the DC to DC converter). The machine operates at a 667 KHz rate and executes an add instruction in 7.5 microseconds. The primary function of OBP-2 on OAO-C will be auxiliary command storage, spacecraft monitoring and malfunction reporting, data compression and status summary, and possible performance of emergency corrective action for certain anomalous situations.