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The machine that made the Moon missions possible
We've all been there: you're working on something important, your PC crashes, and you lose all your progress.
Such a failure was not an option during the Apollo missions, the first time ever that a computer was entrusted with handling flight control and life support systems—and therefore the lives of the astronauts on board.
Despite an infamous false alarm during lunar descent that sent Commander Neil Armstrong's heart rate racing, it was a resounding success that laid the groundwork for everything from modern avionics to multitasking operating systems.
Here are some of the ways the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), millions of times less powerful than a 2019 smartphone, shaped the world we live in today:
- Microchip revolution
- Multitasking
- Real-time input
- Passing the test
(Score: 2, Troll) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday July 17 2019, @04:21PM (8 children)
It still wasn't as important as the coffee makers that fueled the engineers.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday July 17 2019, @04:36PM
No coffee makers were injured in the production of this system. Now imagine, if you will, the future!
"Coffee Makers" https://www.amazon.com/keurig-coffee-makers/s?k=keurig+coffee+makers [amazon.com]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 5, Funny) by Gaaark on Wednesday July 17 2019, @04:43PM (6 children)
Except they faked the coffee makers too: it was all chicory.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Wednesday July 17 2019, @05:26PM (5 children)
As long as it wasn't Sanka. And in space, no OJ... Tang! :)
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by JNCF on Wednesday July 17 2019, @05:50PM (3 children)
OJ might have a blast in space, no one can hear you scream.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday July 17 2019, @06:58PM (1 child)
Wouldn't have worked. The gloves would have fit.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday July 17 2019, @07:04PM
And in a Bronco, no one can hear you hiding like a little baby girl.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Funny) by Osamabobama on Wednesday July 17 2019, @10:16PM
They tried that in Capricorn One [imdb.com], but funding was cut so they had to fake the 'space' part.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 3, Funny) by datapharmer on Thursday July 18 2019, @12:45AM
Obviously you never saw Capricorn one.