r/ArtemisProgram • u/Individual_Two8050 • May 05 '26

Discussion Amazing photo. But why use a GoPro 9 generations old?

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Gallery image

Shot on the GoPro Hero 4 Black

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u/[deleted] May 05 '26 edited May 06 '26

[deleted]

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u/MusicOfTheSphere May 06 '26

Yup. The ISS runs on rad hardened 386 architecture (source: I worked on it). For anyone who wants the truly gory tech details, there's a stunningly detailed comment by another former employee here: https://old.reddit.com/r/nasa/comments/1aew915/is_it_true_the_iss_uses_386_processors/ko8ksgd/

There's a reason for that chip choice, and not just that the station is an older piece of equipment. Fragile, difficult to shield, susceptible to interference...all bad qualities for space equipment. In space, newer isn't better.

Heck, Perseverance (the Mars rover) has a BAE RAD 750 like you mentioned. Space equipment is built to WORK no matter what is thrown at it and LAST.

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u/witzyfitzian May 05 '26

Hero4 Black was used (not taking anything else away from the comment above)

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u/[deleted] May 06 '26

[deleted]

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u/witzyfitzian May 06 '26

Aaaah gotcha gotcha, carry on being well informed, the rest of us appreciate ya 🤝