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Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience

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Part I : Manned Spacecraft Computers

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• Introduction to Part One.

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- Chapter One -

- The Gemini Digital Computer: First Machine in Orbit -

• The Gemini Digital Computer: First Machine in Orbit.
• Hardware.
• Software.
• Crew interfaces to the Gemini digital computer.
• The impact of the digital computer.

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- Chapter Two -

- Computers On Board The Apollo Spacecraft -

 

• The need for an on-board computer.
• MIT chosen as hardware and software contractor.
• The Apollo computer systems.
• Evolution of the hardware: Old technology versus new block I and Block I designs.
• The Apollo guidance computer: Hardware.
• The Apollo guidance computer: Software.
• Using the AGC.
• The abort guidance system.
• Lessons.

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- Chapter Three -

- The Skylab Computer System -

 

• The Skylab Computer System.
• Hardware.
• Software.
• User Interfaces.
• The Reactivation Process.
• Conclusions.

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- Chapter Four -

- Computers in the Space Shuttle Avionics System -

 

• Computers in the Space Shuttle Avionics System.
• Evolution of the shuttle computer system.
• The DPS hardware configuration.
• Computer synchronization and redundancy management.
• Developing software for the space shuttle.
• Using the Shuttle DPS.
• The Space shuttle main engine controllers.
• The future of the shuttle's computers.
• Conclusion.

 

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