5 ms·

I feel compelled to post some images of inertial guidance systems. Most of these parts are from the Minuteman 1 although there are some earlier and later guidan

I feel compelled to post some images of inertial guidance systems. Most of these parts are from the Minuteman 1 although there are some earlier and later guidance system components. The white backplane and the gyroscopes are Minuteman 1 parts. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0YG4TcsmGWIVSf https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0YG4TcsmGWIVSf

trollerator23 3y ago
Good ole' Autonetics. BTW you can see some of these at the Air and Space Museum in DC, and a smaller set at the Computer Science Museum in ... Palo Alto? Mountain View? (that area)
- fragmede 3y ago
  Mountain View https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102686251 https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/10268625...
iab 3y ago
These are great, how did you come across / where did you get them?
- detourdog 3y ago
  I have been collecting Autonetics material since the early days of eBay.
  - iab 3y ago
    Would love to see any/all other albums/photos that you are willing to share.
    - detourdog 3y ago
      I’m working on it. Many projects but documenting this collection is bubbling up to the top.
      - detourdog 3y ago
        Here is a Nixdorf 820 with the ROD memory https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y59UlCqNHCjx https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y59UlCqNHCjx https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/264/1116 https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/... This computer earned listing for this innovation. https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/264 https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/... Which puts into context. I also included the story of it's previous life. My thinking is we are focused on making circuits too small. We need big circuits that make big but simple decisions. I was collecting pre-microprocessor computing artifacts for a while. I now need to get sit down and figure out what I have. In the meantime I use them as reference idea to feed my development of a 100 year computer.
        iab 3y ago
        So interesting, thanks for sharing
jcims 3y ago
>The MGS is an inertial guidance system which directs the flight of the missile. The guidance system operates continuously while the missile is in alert status, thus enabling the missile to be launched in less than one minute. I wonder how often the missile is in alert status? Presumably regular testing? For those just skimming the guidance system info (for Minuteman III) starts on page 49. Looks like they miniaturized it some and that giant moon lander backplane seems to be substantially reduced? Amazing pics, thanks for sharing!
- teeray 3y ago
  Apart from regular testing, I would imagine anything at or above DEFCON 3 would put missiles in alert status. That level requires the USAF to be ready to go in 15 minutes.
  - chasd00 3y ago
    During the Cuban missile crisis SAC went to defcon 2 while the rest of the armed forces stopped at defcon 3. The wiki page is an amazing read. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis
- jdubner 3y ago
  > I wonder how often the missile is in alert status? In 1972-74 when I was a Minuteman I launch officer (DMCCC) our 10 missiles were /always/ on alert. You would expect to see 10 green "Strategic Alert" lights across the crew commander's (MCCC's) console unless something was wrong (requiring maintenance or a brief calibration). IIRC we were in a perpetual state of DEFCON 4 in those days.
  - ricksunny 3y ago
    Interesting - As a Minuteman launch officer, I'd be curious what are your thoughts on the incursion accounts of launch officers Robert Salas & David Schindele? (I understand there were comparable reports going into the 1970s as well but I'm not as familiar with those) Salas @ Malmstrom https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-air-force-personnel-ufos-deactivated-nukes/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-air-force-personnel-ufos-dea... Schindele @ Minot: https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2023/06/former-missile-officer-ufo-whistleblower-demonstrates-tremendous-courage/ https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2023/06/forme...

trollerator23 3y ago

Good ole' Autonetics. BTW you can see some of these at the Air and Space Museum in DC, and a smaller set at the Computer Science Museum in ... Palo Alto? Mountain View? (that area)

fragmede 3y ago
Mountain View https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102686251 https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/10268625...

iab 3y ago

These are great, how did you come across / where did you get them?

detourdog 3y ago
I have been collecting Autonetics material since the early days of eBay.
- iab 3y ago
  Would love to see any/all other albums/photos that you are willing to share.
  - detourdog 3y ago
    I’m working on it. Many projects but documenting this collection is bubbling up to the top.
    - detourdog 3y ago
      Here is a Nixdorf 820 with the ROD memory https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y59UlCqNHCjx https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y59UlCqNHCjx https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/264/1116 https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/... This computer earned listing for this innovation. https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/264 https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/... Which puts into context. I also included the story of it's previous life. My thinking is we are focused on making circuits too small. We need big circuits that make big but simple decisions. I was collecting pre-microprocessor computing artifacts for a while. I now need to get sit down and figure out what I have. In the meantime I use them as reference idea to feed my development of a 100 year computer.
      - iab 3y ago
        So interesting, thanks for sharing

jcims 3y ago

>The MGS is an inertial guidance system which directs the flight of the missile. The guidance system operates continuously while the missile is in alert status, thus enabling the missile to be launched in less than one minute. I wonder how often the missile is in alert status? Presumably regular testing? For those just skimming the guidance system info (for Minuteman III) starts on page 49. Looks like they miniaturized it some and that giant moon lander backplane seems to be substantially reduced? Amazing pics, thanks for sharing!

teeray 3y ago
Apart from regular testing, I would imagine anything at or above DEFCON 3 would put missiles in alert status. That level requires the USAF to be ready to go in 15 minutes.
- chasd00 3y ago
  During the Cuban missile crisis SAC went to defcon 2 while the rest of the armed forces stopped at defcon 3. The wiki page is an amazing read. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis
jdubner 3y ago
> I wonder how often the missile is in alert status? In 1972-74 when I was a Minuteman I launch officer (DMCCC) our 10 missiles were /always/ on alert. You would expect to see 10 green "Strategic Alert" lights across the crew commander's (MCCC's) console unless something was wrong (requiring maintenance or a brief calibration). IIRC we were in a perpetual state of DEFCON 4 in those days.
- ricksunny 3y ago
  Interesting - As a Minuteman launch officer, I'd be curious what are your thoughts on the incursion accounts of launch officers Robert Salas & David Schindele? (I understand there were comparable reports going into the 1970s as well but I'm not as familiar with those) Salas @ Malmstrom https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-air-force-personnel-ufos-deactivated-nukes/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-air-force-personnel-ufos-dea... Schindele @ Minot: https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2023/06/former-missile-officer-ufo-whistleblower-demonstrates-tremendous-courage/ https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2023/06/forme...