For anyone interesting in learning more about this computer system, I highly recommend _Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight_ by David A. Mindell.
The hardware limitations! The incredibly low bug count! The memory hand-woven by ladies in a factory! I was blown away by the capabilities of the Apollo computer systems. The craft could have been practically unmanned.
Even more impressive, the computers could fly the craft while ALSO being interrupted by and adjusting to human intervention at nearly every step of the process. The pilots and the engineers practically battled over who would be in control of the craft. Fascinating stuff!
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For anyone interesting in learning more about this computer system, I highly recommend _Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight_ by David A. Mindell.
The hardware limitations! The incredibly low bug count! The memory hand-woven by ladies in a factory! I was blown away by the capabilities of the Apollo computer systems. The craft could have been practically unmanned.
Even more impressive, the computers could fly the craft while ALSO being interrupted by and adjusting to human intervention at nearly every step of the process. The pilots and the engineers practically battled over who would be in control of the craft. Fascinating stuff!