Examining circuit boards from the Space Shuttle's I/O Processor
4 hours ago
- #Avionics
- #Computer Architecture
- #Space Shuttle
- The Space Shuttle's I/O Processor (IOP) had a unique architecture with 25 virtual processors running on one physical processor using multi-threading.
- The IOP used 'pages'—9"×3" circuit cards—with specialized functions: MIA interface pages for network connections and PROM pages for microcode storage.
- Network communication employed Manchester encoding for reliable data transmission, handled by custom Motorola chips and analog hybrid modules.
- The IOP's design evolved over time, eventually being integrated into the AP-101S computer, saving weight and improving performance.