[AccessD] OT: The mission to the Moon

Gustav Brock Gustav at cactus.dk
Fri Jul 17 05:08:56 CDT 2009


Hi all

A site is set up to replay in real time for the next days the full mission 40 years ago:

  http://wechoosethemoon.org 

A must if you - as I did - spent hours and hours in front of the TV to view this - perhaps - greatest moment in history of mankind.
Notice the great animation of the physical blade-digit counters displaying the count downs. 

To pick a detail, read here the story about the on-board computer, Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), and its 160K hand-built memory:

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8148730.stm 

including how and why a team of skilled textile workers played a key role in building this crucial module! That story was new to me. Never again talk about a single bit without respect. 

What really put this mission in perspective is that even today, 40 years later, if you planned a similar mission, it would be considered to touch the limit of the possible if not to be regarded as just too risky. Amazing.

/gustav





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