Yeah, the Voyager used three RCA 1802s (the CPU used in the Elf, SuperElf,
COSMAC computers), because they used a SOS process (Semiconductor On
Sapphire) which was extremely resistant to electromagnetics, radiation, etc.
I think about that every time I see the silly original Star Trek: The Motion
Picture (for those who haven't seen this masterpiece, the RCA 1802-powered
Voyager runs into an alien civilization who accelerates it to about the
level of HAL with a learning disorder, then gives it a big EMP gun and
points it back towards Earth - gee, thanks)
Kai
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin [mailto:max82_at_surfree.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 2:25 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: E-bay stupidity! was Re: height of folly
On Sat, 3 Jul 1999 jpero_at_cgocable.net wrote:
>Bogus! I knew Voyager doesn't use this '4004, I think cpu is 1801
>or something like that made for space applications.
So, where _did_ the story about the Voyager using a 4004 come from? I've
seen it in a variety of places, and never questioned it. As it happens, I
think that this is a fairly valuable item, though perhaps not worth $600.
Although it's not the _first_ microprocessor (as we learned a year ago),
it's definitely the first commercial one.
--Max Eskin (max82_at_surfree.com)
http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is Power
Received on Sun Jul 04 1999 - 02:36:58 BST