Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience (Gem-laden Official Report written under NASA Contract NASW-37 14)

If you're into spaceflight and you're into computers, here's a NASA
official history you'll want to check out (if you haven't already):

Computers in Spaceflight
The NASA Experience
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Hi.../contents.html

"NASA did not push the state of the art, but nudged it enough times to
make a difference."
(Quote from the Forward)

Part I : Manned Spacecraft Computers
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Hi...ers/Part1.html

Part II : Computers On Board Unmanned Spacecraft
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Hi...ers/Part2.html

Part III : Ground Based Computers for Space Flight Operations
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Hi...ers/Part2.html


(NASA History Office Topical Index -
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/tindex.html)


Table of Contents:
_________________

Computers in Spaceflight
The NASA Experience


Foreword.
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
Computing and Spaceflight: An Introduction.


Part I : Manned Spacecraft Computers

Introduction to Part One.

- 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.

- 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 hardwa 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.

- Chapter Three -
- The Skylab Computer System -

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

- 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.


Part II : Computers On Board Unmanned Spacecraft

Introduction to Part Two.

- Chapter Five -
- From Sequencers to Computers: Exploring the Moon and the Inner
Planets -
From sequencers to computers: Exploring the Moon and the inner
planets.
Fixed sequencers: "Computers" on Ranger, Surveyor and the early
Mariners.
Programmable sequencers: Mariners to Mars, Venus and Mercury.
Expanded memory and expanded functions.
The Star computer.
Viking computer systems.
On to the outer planets.

- Chapter Six -
- Distributed Computing On Board Voyager and Galileo -

Distributed computing on board Voyager and Galileo.
Voyager - The flying computer center.
Galileo - True distributed computing in space.
Future unmanned spacecraft computers.


Part III : Ground Based Computers for Space Flight Operations

Introduction to Part III.

- Chapter Seven -
- The Evolution of Automated Launch Processing -

The evolution of automated launch processing.
Launch processing in the Saturn era.
The shuttle launch processing system.

- Chapter Eight -
- Computers in Mission Control -

Computers in mission control.
Manned mission control computers.
Umanned mission control computers.

- Chapter Nine -
- Making New Reality: Computers in Simulations and Image Processing -

Making new reality: Computers in simulations and image processing.
Crew-training simulators.
Image processing.


Epilogue.
Source Notes.
Bibliographic Note.
Apppendix I: Glossary of Computer Terms.
Appendix II: HAL/S, A Real-Time Language for Space Flight.
Appendix III: GOAL: A Language for Launch Processing.
Appendix IV: Mariner Mars 1969 Flight Program.

___________________


Enjoy.


~ CT