UW Viking Computer Facility: Engineering and Science

<H2> Introduction </H2> The University of Washington Viking Computer Facility, VCF, housed in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, was developed by Viking Meteorology Science Team member Jim Tillman and his staff to alleviate a shortcoming in the <A HREF="http://www.atmos.washington.edu/local-httpdocs/k12/viking_history_npug_84.html#meteorology_testing"> <B><I> Viking Meteorology Instrument System</I></B></A>, VMIS, testing. Based on a knowledge of boundary layer meteorology and instrumentation, I pointed out that the testing of the wind component of the Viking Meteorology Sensor Assembly was inadequate due to the small size the ``wind tunnel'' and that the tests were carried out at room temperature. Team members from NASA Langley Research Center, (LRC provided the Viking Program management), agreed and proposed, developed and/or acquired major wind tunnel and related testing resources. Tillman and his colleagues proposed and then developed a major computer facility, the Viking Computer Facility, and interfaced it to operate the Viking Meteorology Instrument System, VMIS, exactly as the Lander did, to collect the test data and to process it for comparison with those from the LRC test facilities. Several years later, through the unprecedented efforts of the VCF staff, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory staff, and NASA Deep Space Network, this foundation allowed us to propose and take on a key role in more than doubling the life of Lander 1, ending on sol 2,245. Providing, and especially being the sole provider, of such Mission Operations downlink engineering data for a Mars Lander, was a first for any non-governmental entity. Mars background and Viking history are described in this <A HREF="http://www.atmos.washington.edu/local-httpdocs/k12/viking_history_npug_84.html"> <B><I> Viking Computer Facility </I></B></A>article.