Cores in space: The core memory module from a 1980 Spacelab computer
Summary
The article surveys the Spacelab computer's core memory implementation, including 294,912 lithium ferrite cores providing 128 KB of RAM and a 2 1/2 D architecture. It explains how coincident current addressing, diodes, and sense amplifiers enable memory operation while reducing wiring, and notes the shift to semiconductor memory in aerospace systems. Rich diagrams and historical context illuminate why core memory persisted for radiation resistance and nonvolatility longer in space hardware.