# NASA, WOTW & Modular Design - The NASA Nostalgia

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2011-01-11
- Length: 1h 03m
- Episode: 25
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-25-the-nasa-nostagia/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the history of the 6502 microprocessor, noting how its low cost disrupted Motorola's 6800 and enabled the Apple I, while also reviewing a study showing ASUS leads in e-waste management compared to Apple and HP. They analyze the challenges of modular electronics design, advising that universal interfaces often fail to meet specific needs, and debate the feasibility of a 48V DC home power standard, concluding that infrastructure costs make it impractical. The episode concludes with commentary on the privatization of space exploration and the loss of NASA's manned program.

## Chapters

- [0:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=34) Introduction and Watch Discussion
- [8:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=525) Workbench of the Week: JP Whack and Troy
- [24:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=1497) The 6502 Microprocessor History and Cost
- [31:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=1873) E-Waste Management and ASUS vs. Apple
- [38:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=2286) 48V DC Home Power Standard Debate
- [49:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=2984) Modular Electronics Design for Weather Balloons
- [59:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia#t=3564) Private Space Exploration and NASA

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- 6502 (chip)
- Motorola (company)
- Apple (company)
- ASUS (company)
- Arduino (product)
- Tektronix (company)
- NASA (company)
- SpaceX (company)

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- [iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari on the hidden design of modern electronics, CES-week manufacturing headlines, and a Reconstruction of Juicero, the $700 connected juicer that defined over-engineering.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-01-06-ifixits-shahram-mokhtari-on-the-hidden-design-of-modern-electronics-ces-week-man) (Go/No-Go)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-b56cece1) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-11-nasa-wotw-modular-design-the-nasa-nostalgia. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.