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There’s also astral navigation (how did automatic AN computers work in the 1970s/1980s anyway? CCD and mememy tech was far more primitive, so I really want to k

There’s also astral navigation (how did automatic AN computers work in the 1970s/1980s anyway? CCD and mememy tech was far more primitive, so I really want to know the technical details) - and ground-based radio beacons.

justinator 8y ago
I mean, did they work at all? GPS was around in the 70's/80's, just not in any way that was useful for civilian purposes.
RyJones 8y ago
The SR71 had impressive AN computers. Here is where you might start [0] looking. I found some lessons online [1] that might help. [0] https://timeandnavigation.si.edu/multimedia-asset/nortronics-nas-14v2-astroinertial-navigation-system https://timeandnavigation.si.edu/multimedia-asset/nortronics... [1] https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjd_9zl7rvcAhWbIjQIHSSJCFQQFjAAegQIBxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffer3.com%2Farc%2Fimgx%2Fmalkin-accuracy-of-astro-nav.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0VR5di0SMKMZ5tV0tCOK-q https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...
j9461701 8y ago
Automated celestial navigation is actually surprisingly old technology, first being pioneered in the 1950s on the snark missile. Of course at first it was extremely unreliable, with the snark flying off target so often the part of the ocean the missiles were being tested in was humorously dubbed "snark infested waters" due to all the off target missiles that sunk there. But eventually people got better and did amazing things with relatively primitive tools, and by the '60s decently successful guidance systems using the stars were common place on ICBMS. As to technical details, here is a write up of the NAS26 astro-inertial guidance system from the '70s: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a090649.pdf http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a090649.pdf The navy and the air force get all the coolest toys, I tell you what.

justinator 8y ago

I mean, did they work at all? GPS was around in the 70's/80's, just not in any way that was useful for civilian purposes.

RyJones 8y ago

The SR71 had impressive AN computers. Here is where you might start [0] looking. I found some lessons online [1] that might help. [0] https://timeandnavigation.si.edu/multimedia-asset/nortronics-nas-14v2-astroinertial-navigation-system https://timeandnavigation.si.edu/multimedia-asset/nortronics... [1] https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjd_9zl7rvcAhWbIjQIHSSJCFQQFjAAegQIBxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffer3.com%2Farc%2Fimgx%2Fmalkin-accuracy-of-astro-nav.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0VR5di0SMKMZ5tV0tCOK-q https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...

j9461701 8y ago

Automated celestial navigation is actually surprisingly old technology, first being pioneered in the 1950s on the snark missile. Of course at first it was extremely unreliable, with the snark flying off target so often the part of the ocean the missiles were being tested in was humorously dubbed "snark infested waters" due to all the off target missiles that sunk there. But eventually people got better and did amazing things with relatively primitive tools, and by the '60s decently successful guidance systems using the stars were common place on ICBMS. As to technical details, here is a write up of the NAS26 astro-inertial guidance system from the '70s: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a090649.pdf http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a090649.pdf The navy and the air force get all the coolest toys, I tell you what.