iPhone 11 vs. The International Space Station: A Comparative Analysis of Computing Power

The question often arises, 'How many iPhone 11s would it take to equal the computing power aboard the International Space Station (ISS)?' While the iPhone 11 is proclaimed to be extremely powerful, the computing requirements of the ISS are far more specialized and extensive than most people realize.

Understanding the ISS Computing Environment

The computers aboard the ISS are not consumer-grade devices, but rather specialized units designed to handle the critical tasks necessary for the station's operations. Unlike iPhones, which are primarily designed for consumer use, the ISS relies on a combination of specialized and general-purpose computers. Early on, the ISS used Macintosh Portables, which were pioneering devices for their time, but not designed for the harsh environment of space.

Modern ISS Computing

By the time the Macintosh Portables were installed, the government had a policy of purchasing the cheapest available computers. As a result, the majority of the computing resources aboard the ISS are Pentium-based generic clones, running general software. Upgrades to these systems have been limited due to budget constraints, meaning that many onboard computers are still running on five-year-old Intel Core i7 quad processors.

The iPhone 11: A Modern Marvel

The iPhone 11 is equipped with a powerful A13 Bionic chip, which integrates both CPU and GPU. This chip is incredibly efficient and capable, especially when compared to the general-purpose architectures used in the ISS. However, comparing the iPhone 11 directly to the ISS's computing power is not straightforward due to the specialized nature of the devices on the ISS.

Why iPhones Fall Short for the ISS

While the iPhone 11 does have more computing power than any of the originalISS 'operational' computers, it is not designed for the specific tasks required in space. The iPhone is primarily a consumer device with a focus on graphical performance and user-friendly interfaces. To perform complex tasks and run specialized software on the ISS, the devices must be highly radiation-hardened, reliable, and capable of handling long-term use in an extreme environment.

Conclusion

In summary, while the iPhone 11 is a powerful device with significant computing capabilities, it would not be a feasible replacement for the specialized computing hardware on the International Space Station. The ISS requires a combination of general-purpose and specialized computers designed to handle the unique challenges of space travel. The iPhone 11, while capable of handling many modern computational tasks, would be ill-suited for the demanding conditions and specific requirements of space operations.

References

Macintosh Portable - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from _Portable