The 1802 (actually, a specialized version of the architecture) was the first CPU to leave the solar system (if it's a deep space probe from the 70's or 80's, it probably had an 1802 onboard).

It also ran the probe that was sent and crashed (intentionally!) into Venus. A friend who worked at GE at the time was on the design team. The thing that really impressed them was that the probe continued operating after landing, for something like a half hour, before melting...

See also:

• http://www.piclist.com/techref/member/JRD-WSU-Q61a/index.htm Jack was very active with the 1802 and published a mini-os in PC Mag for the expanded COSMAC ELF.
• http://www.geocities.com/ted_rossin/Electronics/RCA/RCA.html Great resources for the 1802! Emulator, minimal C compiler, assembler, video demos, logic analyser project, etc..
• Harris Semiconductor still sells the 1802A and an 1805AC with timer/counter
• http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r/elf/html/elf-1-33.htm The first COSMIC ELF article in Pop Electronics
• http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r/computer_simulators.htm An ELF simulator (cached 20000211)

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