Launch Costs

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Al Globus wrote:
>
> Shuttle and ISS astronauts use laptops as a matter of course.

yes, specilly built laptops, designed to handle the vibration and g
forces.
>
> SpaceDev has a satellite (actually a line of satellites) with
production
> processors and chips, running Linux using TCP/IP for
communication. The
> only 'space-qualified' chip is for encryption/decryption for ground
> communications. These are in low Earth orbit. It's not clear that
it would
> function properly in higher orbits with more radiation.
>
and how much of the satellite is designed around protecting those
chips and processors. im not saying that normal chips and processors
cant be used, but the chip boards and such must be designed to handle
the stress, and to protect the chips and memory. not exactly a cheap
thing.