Wen Chow

Updated: 12/31/2020 by Computer Hope
Wen Chow

Name: Wen Tsing Chow

Born: 1918 in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Death: 2001 (Age: 83)

Computer-related contributions

  • Chinese-born American digital computer pioneer and missile guidance scientist.
  • Pioneered the use of digital computers in satellites, missiles, and spacecraft guidance systems.
  • Lead the design of the United States Air Force Atlas E/F ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) all-inertial guidance computer and guidance system.
  • Prepared the design of the first all solid state, high reliability, spaceborne digital computer.
  • Possesses patent on what is known as programmable read-only memory or PROM (called "constants storage matrix," in the 1950s).

Honors and awards

  • Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Award (2004).