Extracting code from the first NASA computer flown in space

[Alex Eisenhut]

Sigh. What to believe? Company propaganda or an encyclopedia that anyone can edit...

If TI integrated circuits were actually being used in the Minuteman-I, which was already in service by 1962, they should try to get all those Wikipedia errors fixed.

Sorry, I don't remember where I said the Minuteman I computer used ICs?

I think we're all talking slightly past each other... Me first.

I was merely responding to the title of this thread, and I think the Gemini computer was the first NASA computer in space. I wasn't aware that it was necessary for the discussion to be about ICs.

The first digital computer in space was the Autonetics one, also preceding the AGC. I didn't see anything about ICs being discussed. I didn't watch the video because I've seen this all before.

Then there's the "first one to use ICs in space" category, which I didn't make any special claims on, and there's the "first computer made of ICs" category, which didn't include space, NASA or otherwise.

And as for the "agc rope memory didn't work", this guy is such a moron he thinks the inner wires threaded in the cores wouldn't work since they would be shielded by the other wires... Fuck's sake, how does this moron think a regular AC power transformer works? Does he think all that "extra" wiring inside the transformer is a hoax too? This idiot needs a neon sign transformer up his butt and let's see if he still believes those inner wires are shielded by the other ones....

[rrinker]

 Note in the Gemini mission status report videos Homer posted today, in part 2 it mentions a transistorized binary digital computer as part of the Gemini systems. It further mentions that this computer had 160K or solid state memory.
 Not sure how the Apollo AGC got the reputation as being the first computer NASA flew in space. Now - does anyone have more info or has anyone ever built a replica of the Gemini computer?

[alanb]

Part 2 is now available https://youtu.be/-BlivdwXRZU

[SimonR]

They say that the memory of AGC could not work. 



I think it is bullshit. 

What's your opinion about this video ?

These videos are only worth watching if you really want a laugh. I've seen a couple of them now and this idiot thinks that

• You can't connect the outputs of logic gates together. He's obviously never heard of open collector outputs
• You can't drive a digital input from a comparator because its an analogue device
• A Triplexer can't be bideirectional, I don't thinks he's ever heard of a triplexer
• Analogue Multiplexers don't exist, only digital ones exist.
• The colour wheel in the video camera couldn't possibly work.
• many, many other stupid things

There are a whole bunch of other miss informed comments, all based on the concept diagrams. Not one is based on the actual schematics.
In this particular video he says the memory controller won't work because the circuit has a connection missing. Yes it does but any competent engineer would recognise it as the equivalent circuit from an IC manufactureres data sheet that has a printing error. Something that still happens today.
As far as I know the AGC had 2 integrated circuits, correct me if I'm wrong, one was the 3 input NAND gate from Fairchild and the other was an analogue device for driving magnetic core store.

I think this guy is quite insulting as he pulls apart absolutely everything including the radar systems. I suspect these weren't designed from scratch for Apollo, it is likely that they were existing technology modified, and ruggedised for Apollo so it is quite a kick in the teeth to say that a company with a track record that specialise in this stuff made a product that couldn't possibly work. Even if they did do a new ground up design it was still done by some who knew what they were doing.

What really anoys me though, is where did he find all of this technical documentaion? All I can find is the AGC schematic and a load of reports. I can't find schematics for any other system. Its all wasted on him

[rrinker]

 Maybe Len is correct, this guy is just trying to prove none of the hardware could have worked and thus the moon missions were all faked. Just like that awesome liftoff of Apollo 8 that came up on the tail end of the Gemini videos Homer posted. First manned launch of the Saturn V. Impressive.

[tatus1969]

So if the rope memory modules could not work, how is he proposing the missions actually flew?

The moon missions were faked, doncha know.

and who exactly put that mirror there?

[rrinker]

[SimonR]

There's this video in the AGC series as well