From: wingo%cspara@Fedex.Msfc.Nasa.Gov
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Using off-the-shelf-components
Date: 27 Jan 1993 17:13 CST
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: judy.uh.edu
Keywords: space science, electronics, computers
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In article <1993Jan27.190735.17499@cc.ic.ac.uk>, atae@crab.ph.ic (Ata Etemadi) writes...
>G'Day
> 
> Are there any companies out there whose off-the-shelf products are
>space-qualified ? I ask this since a colleague at IKI told me that 
>they had flown many standard PC hard discs as onboard storage devices 
>and had great success. I just wondered what other components might be
>out there which are standard and space-qualified. I don't imagine
>for one minute that these components will be chosen for major space 
>missions since they are just not expensive enough. Maybe the UOSAT
>folks will be willing to give them go...
> 
>    regards
> 

You know I feel like I am the Shell Answer man for space of late.

You can fly any commercial hardware you like on the shuttle as long as it
meets the flamablity, outgassing, offgassing and EMI requirements.

Let me give you an example. I recently, along with others working at the
University of Alabama in Huntsville, built tested and delivered to the 
SpaceHab module (STS 57) a major payload for the measurement of the 
microgravity levels inside of the SpaceHab module.  This experiment has 
a controller that is a personal computer that sit by the millions on desks
all across the world, with a data acquisiton card manufactured commercially
by the US leader in that field. Also flown for data storage are two 2.1
gigabyte ST42100 5 1/4" Seagate hard disks. Attached to this are some rather
expensive accelerometers that are the best in the world.  The software is
a standard version of the commercial data acquistion software made by the
manufacturer of the data acquistion card.

These components were integrated into a structure that fits in a Middeck 
locker and all of the above components passed the shake tests, outgassing
and offgassing tests, as well as near compliance on EMI which  required a
waiver, which was granted. 

This hardware and software, with the exception of the accelerometers (which
have 1 microgee accuracy) were bought from local computer stores or national
distributors. 

The problem is that non of you so called big shots out there with the big
mouths and no follow through are willing to do the work necessary to make
this happen on a day to day basis. I guarantee that if a few of you would
bid on NASA announcment of opportunities when they come out, and do the hard
work necessary to use the commercial equipment, you could lower the cost of 
the program by at least 2/3. How can I say that? IT is because this is 
exactly what we did here. Talk is cheap and there is a lot of cheap talk on 
this group. Get offa your rears and do something to help lower the costs
of moving into space. I can't do it all. (but I damn sure am trying)

Yours was probably a legitimate question and I try to answer nicely but
you must realize that NASA is not the enemy. On the contrary, NASA will
help you to help NASA because if for no other reason it looks good to be
able to show costs savings on programs and reverse technology transfer is
the primary way in my estimation that this is going to happen.

Dennis, University of Alabama in Huntsville

PS: Paul S you are a newby and you better get used to the McElwaine's of this
net.