[inforoots] Re: Spacecraft Pioneer and it's data on old media problem

[w1pf]

First off, there is nowhere NEAR enough information in that letter 
(or, as far as I can tell, anywhere else on the site) to attract 
those of us who have the technical zotz to really help out.

Second, I seriously doubt that any of this needs to be done on 
ancient equipment. Get the data off the tapes, clearly, but that 
should be relatively straightforward. Maybe even do it two or three 
times, and don't toss the tapes.. but don't try to process it on the 
fly.. Then, with the data safely stored away (and possibly readable 
from anywhere on the planet), I'm sure hte good folks im SIMH land 
can gen up a suitable PDP_whatever simulator to run the codes on.

While it would be "wicked cool" to do everything on vintage iron, the 
goal here should be to save the data and then construct an 
environment where the folks with content knowledge can do what they 
need to do on the machines they already have. Saving the machinery 
may well be as important (or even more important) in it's own right, 
but mixing up the goals doesn't help get the job done.

And yes, I think it would make for a VERY good exhibit at the CHM.. 
the tapes, the codes, the people, the iron from the Pioneer project.. 
and also, this very discussion, on how you go back and re-mine things 
done in the past, underscores the mission of the CHM as well as the 
many who do things like SIMH..

Is there anybody on this list with direct contact with these folks? I 
think there are enough resources within two degrees of separation 
from this list to get them to where they need to be..

...tom


>It's an Interesting problem!
>
>For my read of it, they don't give enough information, such as what old
>DEC computers are they using.
>I'd be interested in knowing more, so if you have any contacts with the
>Planetary Society, feel free to
>pass my name and/or email address along to them.
>
>There are a LOT of people still around who know a bit about DEC
>machines, some who are on this list.
>They mention FORTRAN-66, and file formats a number of times, and I'm
>curious what's so special.