The guidance computer doesn't have enough RAM to contain the code for the entire mission, though. They have to load in a new program once the the orbiter is in

The guidance computer doesn't have enough RAM to contain the code for the entire mission, though. They have to load in a new program once the the orbiter is in space, and another one before it de-orbits. There's a fascinating (and very detailed) series of lectures on the Shuttle's design online on MIT's OpenCourseware site: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Aeronautics-and-Astronautics/16-885JFall-2005/CourseHome/index.htm http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Aeronautics-and-Astronautics/16-88...