Light Years Ahead | The 1969 Apollo Guidance Computer

TNMoC February 4, 2020
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Home to the world's largest collection of working historic computers. Follow the development of computing: from the Turing-Welchman Bombe and Colossus of the 1940s through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, to the rise of personal computing and the rise of mobile computing and the internet. Recognised as one of England’s top 100 ‘irreplaceable places’, we welcome corporate and group visits, schools and individuals from all over the world. The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) is located on the Bletchley Park Estate but is independent of the Bletchley Park Trust.

Video Description

Half a century ago, on 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong was in the final stages of the lunar descent, just a few thousand feet above the surface, when suddenly his on-board computer indicated a critical alarm. For three nail-biting seconds it looked as if the mission would have to be aborted. However, Armstrong was given a "go" to continue, and after several more alarms the Eagle touched down safely on the Moon. Robert Wills introduces the amazing hardware and software that made up the Apollo Guidance Computer, walks you through the landing procedure step-by-step, and talks about the pioneering design principles that were used to make the landing software robust against any failure. He also explains the problems that occurred during the Apollo 11 landing, and shows you how the Apollo Guidance Computer played its part in saving the mission. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to TNMOC and introduction 04:50 The Apollo Guidance Computer, AGC 19:36 Demo 13:08 How to land on the moon 47:53 The eventful landing 1:00:37 Questions and answers Recorded: 26th October, 2019.