13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle 13 Minutes to the Moon: 5. The fourth astronaut
Jun 9, 2019
Learn about the groundbreaking computer that guided Apollo 11 to the moon, the first digital portable general purpose computer. Explore the innovative work of MIT that paved the way for the digital age. Hear from key figures involved in this technological feat, including Margaret Hamilton and Eldon Hall.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Miniaturizing Computers for Apollo
- Apollo marked a shift from bragging about computer size to valuing smaller, portable digital computers.
- This transition enabled flight control systems unused in prior aviation or spacecraft technology.
Eldon Hall and Integrated Circuits
- Eldon Hall led Apollo computer hardware development, taking risks by adopting nascent integrated circuit technology.
- NASA's trust allowed using this new tech to miniaturize the computer critical for Apollo missions.
Software's Initial Oversight
- Apollo's original contract barely mentioned software despite its mission-critical importance.
- Software emerged as a vital, complex, and costly component essential for mission success by 1967.