Launch Costs

> From: Robert
> 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.

Has anyone ever tested how easily a commercial PDA (for example) stands up
to the stress and vibration of space launch and/or spaceflight? I can see
power, radiation, and heat being a problem whilst in orbit, but the idea
computing technology can't stand up to launch conditions (and expecially G
loading) sounds a bit like an urban myth.

John.