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To: BenLurkin

60,000 lb payload - Space Shuttle

5,000lb payload - X-37

‘nuf said


7 posted on 01/10/2017 7:05:39 PM PST by vooch
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To: vooch
60,000 lb payload - Space Shuttle
5,000lb payload - X-37
‘nuf said

If the payload is electronics based, not really. A 2012 era iPad2 had more processing capacity than the Cray 2 supercomputer introduced in 1985, during the early heyday of the shuttle.

The Cray 2 consumed 150-200 KW of power vs. sub-10W for an iPad2, and was huge - far larger than a 12:1 weight comparison ratio of a shuttle payload vs. a smaller X-37 payload.

So if the payload is electronics based, by today's standards a "mere" 5000lb payload could still blow away the capability of a 1980s era payload on the shuttle.

8 posted on 01/10/2017 7:24:22 PM PST by MCH
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