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Didn’t the Apollo missions push along CPUs technology?

ethbro 7y ago
Looks like. I expect because digital guidance was edge of the envelope in the 1960s. Only later did performance increase enough that space hardware could be conservative. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
- Retric 7y ago
  That had some creative editing. “The Apollo flight computer was the first computer to use integrated circuits (ICs).[citation needed]” The integrated circuit first won a place in the military market through programs such as the first computer using silicon chips for the Air Force in 1961 and the Minuteman Missile in 1962. It was very much cutting edge for the time, but not really more innovative than other similar examples.
- dmitriid 7y ago
  Space is very conservative due to its nature. Even (or especially) at the offset. When you mission planning and construction takes several years, you can’t just go in and swap parts for “cutting edge” and “best-of-breed”. Mission parameters are locked several years before the actual mission takes place and are based on tech that was considered safe, sound, and stable by the time parameters are locked. So, when the mission flies, you get 6-8 year old tech that flies in it. The combination of all the components is usually bigger than the sum of its parts (that is it could be pushing the envelope of what mankind can achieve), but it’s usually built on top of some very boring things.
  - ethbro 7y ago
    I find that hard to square with the design of the Apollo guidance computer and associated software. In researching, it appears this was less true at the beginning of the space program, by necessity. It's fair to say that the Apollo guidance computer was revolutionary.
    - Retric 7y ago
      A lot of early computer work was classified. NASA was able to leverage this work which made evolutionary changes seem revolutionary. But, that’s simply because so many of the intermediary steps where hidden from public view. PS: The enigma cracking for example is very well known now. But, that’s a surprisingly recent revelation... After the end of World War II, the Allies sold captured Enigma machines, still widely considered secure, to developing countries. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine. This meant keeping the machines that could crack these codes secret was important for decades.
Retric 7y ago
It’s more a misleading than a false statement. The Apollo guidance computer was one of the first computers to use integrated circuits. But, several much earlier examples exist such as the minute man ICBM in 1962. So, sort of but not really. NASA has associated the space race with all kinds of tech advancements. But, tight deadlines has meant the focus was less on research than integrating existing technology that was at worst almost ready for use. We had existing huge rockets, they kept scaling them even more. In the end the majority of this stuff is mostly PR. Much like how research papers include hand wavy this is good for X, Y, and Z sort of if you squint.
- ghaff 7y ago
  Furthermore, Draper (well the MIT Instrumentation Lab at the time) did not only the Apollo Guidance Computer but I believe pretty much all the earlier guidance systems. Minuteman I'm pretty sure but possibly systems like Nike as well. (Doc Draper basically invented inertial navigation.)

Looks like. I expect because digital guidance was edge of the envelope in the 1960s. Only later did performance increase enough that space hardware could be conservative. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

Retric 7y ago
That had some creative editing. “The Apollo flight computer was the first computer to use integrated circuits (ICs).[citation needed]” The integrated circuit first won a place in the military market through programs such as the first computer using silicon chips for the Air Force in 1961 and the Minuteman Missile in 1962. It was very much cutting edge for the time, but not really more innovative than other similar examples.
dmitriid 7y ago
Space is very conservative due to its nature. Even (or especially) at the offset. When you mission planning and construction takes several years, you can’t just go in and swap parts for “cutting edge” and “best-of-breed”. Mission parameters are locked several years before the actual mission takes place and are based on tech that was considered safe, sound, and stable by the time parameters are locked. So, when the mission flies, you get 6-8 year old tech that flies in it. The combination of all the components is usually bigger than the sum of its parts (that is it could be pushing the envelope of what mankind can achieve), but it’s usually built on top of some very boring things.
- ethbro 7y ago
  I find that hard to square with the design of the Apollo guidance computer and associated software. In researching, it appears this was less true at the beginning of the space program, by necessity. It's fair to say that the Apollo guidance computer was revolutionary.
  - Retric 7y ago
    A lot of early computer work was classified. NASA was able to leverage this work which made evolutionary changes seem revolutionary. But, that’s simply because so many of the intermediary steps where hidden from public view. PS: The enigma cracking for example is very well known now. But, that’s a surprisingly recent revelation... After the end of World War II, the Allies sold captured Enigma machines, still widely considered secure, to developing countries. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine. This meant keeping the machines that could crack these codes secret was important for decades.

Retric 7y ago

It’s more a misleading than a false statement. The Apollo guidance computer was one of the first computers to use integrated circuits. But, several much earlier examples exist such as the minute man ICBM in 1962. So, sort of but not really. NASA has associated the space race with all kinds of tech advancements. But, tight deadlines has meant the focus was less on research than integrating existing technology that was at worst almost ready for use. We had existing huge rockets, they kept scaling them even more. In the end the majority of this stuff is mostly PR. Much like how research papers include hand wavy this is good for X, Y, and Z sort of if you squint.

ghaff 7y ago
Furthermore, Draper (well the MIT Instrumentation Lab at the time) did not only the Apollo Guidance Computer but I believe pretty much all the earlier guidance systems. Minuteman I'm pretty sure but possibly systems like Nike as well. (Doc Draper basically invented inertial navigation.)