Launch of SCORE: The World's First Communications Satellite
1958 · Cape Canaveral, United States
The world's first communications satellite, SCORE, is launched by the United States, broadcasting a Christmas message from President Eisenhower.
Retirement of the IBM 360⁄91 Supercomputer
Date
June 23, 1969
Event Background
On June 23, 1969, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, marked the end of an era in computing technology with the shutdown of the IBM System/360 Model 91 supercomputer. This event was significant in the progression of computational advancements used by NASA and other research institutions during the 1960s.
The IBM System/360 Family
The IBM System/360, announced by IBM in 1964, was a revolutionary family of computers, noted for its use of the same instruction set across a range of models. The System/360 was designed to support both scientific and commercial applications, making it highly versatile. The Model 91 was one of the high-end configurations, engineered for scientific computing at large institutions like NASA.
Significance of the IBM 360⁄91
- Technological Feat: The IBM 360⁄91 was among the fastest computers of its time, boasting an innovative pipeline architecture which allowed for multiple instructions to be processed simultaneously.
- Enhanced Capabilities for NASA: The power of the IBM 360⁄91 allowed Goddard to handle complex calculations needed for NASA’s space missions, including simulations and data processing crucial for satellite operations and the Apollo missions.
Impact and Legacy
- Advancement in Space Exploration: The capabilities of the 360⁄91 contributed to the success of landmark NASA missions by providing necessary computational support.
- Influence on Supercomputing: The architecture and concepts pioneered in the IBM System/360 line laid the groundwork for future developments in supercomputing, influencing the design of subsequent high-performance computing systems.
- Legacy of the 360 Series: As the Model 91 was retired, NASA and similar institutions moved toward more advanced systems capable of handling the increasingly demanding computational needs of the following decades.
Conclusion
The retirement of the IBM 360⁄91 on June 23, 1969, marked the conclusion of one chapter in computing history, paving the way for the new wave of high-performance computing technology that would support space exploration in the 1970s and beyond. Its legacy persists in the form of innovations that continue to underpin modern computer architecture.