Computation Mainframes in Early Deep Space Explorations by Raisha Xarex ------------------------------------------------------- Abstract At the outset of the Second Exploration, there were four mainframe computer assemblies capable of processing Starship Navigation Data Packets (SNDaPs) at the scale required for effective Dynamic Variable Hyperspace calculations. These were: INIC, designed by Industrial Designs, Inc., Orion II, from Intex, and the AL-2900 and RL-320 Systems, from Trepidatious Enterprises. This essay argues early decisions about deep space computation during the Second Exploration, particularly the dominance of INIC compatible systems, had an effect upon starship capabilities in the middle and late phases of the period. Ultimately, these early technological choices--especially the focus on paper storage and Lars-Krommon logic--were contributing factors in the decline and collapse of space exploration during the era. By the middle of the Second Exploration, and thereafter, exploratory programs favored paper punch card memory systems over magnetic media. This method was more secure in the short term, as magnetic media could be susceptible to radiation and relativity effects of DVH travel. In the long term, however, the memory requirements for extended hyperspace travel corresponded to an increase of vessel size to accomodate card storage and processing facilities. The increased size and personnel requirements of these vessels greatly increased cost, which resulted in fewer exploratory vessels in operation. Deep-space exploratory programs favored Lars-Krommen's Complete Logic Architecture[fn:3] * Historical Background 3204.3 is generally considered to be the start date of the Second Exploration. King Ozz III of Naru-B issued a proclamation declaring exploration of outer space to be "The highest ideal of planetary patriotism.", and "The fulfillment of Orontic heritage." Along with the rhetorical effects, the proclamation directed substantial planetary funds towards those explorations. Following within 8 months of this proclamation three expeditions were mounted: the Righteous, with a crew of 86; the Oron II, with 109; and the Triumphant, with 74. These initial expeditions in truth did not come to very much, but the enthusiam they were the beginnings or a second age of exploration. The first age of exploration had ended two generations previously. It had come to an abrupt end with the outbreak of the Virus War. Once it was discovered that the singularity method was not a viable means of interstellar travel, combined with the exigencies of total war, national budgets were not keen on the vast expenses required for space travel. But now the situation had changed. Ozz II succeeded in his goal of a unified planetary government, and for nearly 20 years the planet was operating under an uneasy peace. Here and there there were pockets of resistance to the Ozz-Oronitc regime, but the movements were largely isolated, and failed to reach the critical masses necessary for full scale revolt. Ozz III was, however, constantly wary of these rumblings towards dissent. Additionally, Ozz has an ecological problem: water scarcity was growing in several regions due to a combination of droughts and agricultural mismanagement. To reinvigorate a sense of unified patriotism, Ozz elected to pour money into the dormant space programs. Over the next century and a half 259 interstellar explorations were launched, and more than twice this number were planned or seriously proposed. The Second Exploration contributed substantially to the expansion and settlement of humanity. * Technical Background Until the discovery of abstractspace by Ariel Moriarty in 5389[fn:1], the only known reliable method of faster than light (FTL) travel was to briefly pass into (or "skim") hyperspace with fusion engines. Vessels would accelerate to near-light speeds (generally between 0.8c and 0.85c) while advancing parallel to the plane of a hyperspace fold. This allowed the vessel to rapidly oscillate into and out of hyperspace.[fn:2] Since hyperspace is wrapped around normal space (more precisely: since each point in hyperspace corresponds to at least two in normal space), the effect of this oscillation was to carry or propel the ship "along" the hyperspace fold. This method of travel was cumbersome and costly. Vessels were necessarily large to accomodate fusion engines, and were at the mercy of hyperspace fold. The nearest hyperspace fold to Naru-B is 3 light years away. During the entirety of the Second Exploration, and well after, starships spent 4 years in deep space at near-light before skimming hyperspace and completing their voyage. Early crude methods of hyperspace skimming involved chosing a vector along the hyperspace fold, and rode it until the oscillations wavered out of proportion. This is known as Static Variable Hyperspace travel (SVH), because the trajectory of the vessel relative to the fold-plane remained locked to the plane itself. These calculations could be computed by humans, and were suitable for early forays into deep space, as well as generation-ship colonization efforts.[fn:4] A drawback of this kind of travel was unpredictability--the hyperspace fold often "spit" vessels back into normal space between 20 and 100 light years off course.[fn:5] While hyperspace folds are, definitionally, static phenomena, the skimming vector was often chosen using guesswork. Dynamic Variable Hyperspace travel, or DVH, was invented in 297.04 by Rushmon Alton, allowed the vessel to adjust its relative trajectory to match the striations of the obverse fold-plane, thereby giving the navigator far more control over how far the fold would take it. The calculations for this kind of travel are orders of magnitude more complex, and require the processing of micro-second data about absolute position. Generally, this data was collected by taking and processing snapshots of visible stars. This complexity scaled with the mass of the vessel, since the vibrance of oscillations were attached to each point of the vessel along its cleavage with the fold-plane. Computer mainframe assemblies were developed to make these calculations. An array of radiotelescopes produced data about the absolute location, and speed of the starship. SNDaPs were then fed into the mainframe assembly (electronically, mechanically, or, in extreme circumstances /manually/), and the mainframe output possible vector- * Footnotes [fn:5] The /Osiris/, founding ship of the Rojek Colony, which became New Loston, was notably thrown off course in this way. The indended destination for the /Osiris/ was the planet now known as Yund II. Futher reading on such incidents can be found in Reich Morris' A Fearsome Dark. [fn:4] Morris, Reich. _A Fearsome Dark: Deep Space Colonizaton Between the First and Second Explorations_. New Loston. Wid University Press, 883 YU. [fn:3] Lars, Astrid and Morell, Krommen. "A Complete Logic Architecture for Generalizable Computation." New Loston. Morris and Morris, 345 UJ. [fn:2] [fn:1]Moriarty, Ariel. "n-manifold Ryann Transformations Within Parallel Frames"