Why does NASA no longer use ThinkPad laptops on the International Space Station?

(Dan Tri) - ThinkPads used to be a familiar laptop line on the International Space Station, but NASA has gradually replaced them when the hardware became outdated and no longer met new operating needs.

With its distinctive square, black design and red TrackPoint button in the middle of the keyboard, ThinkPad is one of the most recognizable laptop lines in the history of the technology industry.

This model also has a special journey when it was selected by NASA for space missions and appeared in many images of astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).

The IBM ThinkPad 750C became the first ThinkPad model used in space when flying with the space shuttle Endeavor in 1993 (Photo: Center Lap).

The story begins in 1993, when the IBM ThinkPad 750C was launched into orbit on the space shuttle Endeavor. According to BGR, this is the first ThinkPad model used in space.

At the time of launch, the ThinkPad 750C belonged to the high-end laptop group. The device has a 10.4-inch color TFT screen, Intel 486 processor and costs about 4,699 USD.

From IBM ThinkPad to laptops on the ISS

ThinkPad was originally IBM's computer brand. In 2005, Lenovo acquired IBM's personal computer business, including the ThinkPad brand. That means ThinkPad's history with space missions began more than a decade ago when this machine line belonged to Lenovo.

In the years that followed, generations of ThinkPads continued to appear in NASA operations. One of the most prominent models is the ThinkPad T61p.

The T61p has become the standard hardware for computers supporting operations on the ISS. NASA documents show that the T61p is used for a variety of purposes on the station, from supporting scientific experiments to serving as a terminal for astronauts to interact with a number of systems.

The ThinkPad T61p was once standard hardware on the International Space Station, serving many activities of astronauts (Photo: NASA).

Putting a commercial laptop into space is not as simple as bringing a computer on an airplane.

The orbital environment places unique demands on reliability, long-term performance, and radiation effects.

NASA's guidance document once emphasized that radiation testing for technological equipment sent to the ISS is necessary to minimize risks.

ThinkPad therefore gradually became a familiar image in photos taken inside the ISS. Many NASA images show black laptops mounted on walls or placed in astronauts' work areas in microgravity conditions.

However, no technological device can serve forever.

Why is NASA gradually replacing ThinkPads?

By 2016, the ThinkPad T61p used on the ISS was relatively old. NASA begins the transition to HP ZBook mobile workstations with newer hardware platforms.

According to BGR, the first five ZBooks were sent to the ISS in April 2016, starting a multi-year transition process.

NASA documents at the same time also show plans to upgrade from the Lenovo T61p to the HP ZBook to support higher storage and bandwidth. By November 2016, NASA recorded the first ZBooks starting to serve as servers on the ISS instead of the T61p.

Since 2016, NASA began replacing ThinkPad T61p with HP ZBooks with newer hardware platforms (Photo: NASA).

The replacement process does not take place simultaneously.

In 2018 and 2019, NASA continuously recorded the replacement of T61p machines in many areas and systems on the ISS with ZBooks.

In May 2019, this agency announced the completion of an important part of the plan to convert Portable Computer System computers to ZBook.

A NASA operations report in April 2023 still mentioned the ThinkPad T61p and confirmed that this was the standard hardware of Station Support Computers before being upgraded to the ZBook.

The ThinkPad T61p will still serve some specialized tasks until at least 2023 and there is no confirmation that the entire remaining machines have been phased out.

Currently, ThinkPad no longer holds the role of the main laptop line on the ISS. According to BGR, about 100 HP laptops are being used on the station, in which ZBook plays an important role in the computer system serving astronauts.

Still, ThinkPad's journey is a special chapter in laptop history. From the ThinkPad 750C that flew with the space shuttle Endeavor in 1993 to the T61p that operated for many years on the ISS, the laptop line with the distinctive red TrackPoint button has been associated with NASA's space activities for more than two decades.