Space History Photo: Cray 2 Supercomputer at NASA

By NASA Archives
published

computer, supercomputer
(Image credit: NASA | Wade Sisler)

The Cray-2 suppercomputer was made by Cray Research beginning in 1985. For a time, it held the title of world’s fastest computing machine. The CRAY-2 had more memory than several hundred PCs and an aggregate speed of more than 1,000 personal computers.

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, the Cray 2 for the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulator is seen glowing at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, on Jan. 1, 1987.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

NASA Archives
NASA Archives
U.S. Space Agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.