Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer • Hacker News Board

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#21

Post by bjackman » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:04 PM UTC

DanBC wrote: post #7

Not quite sure why this links to the code, and not the top level which has a lot more useful information (such as the simulator needed to run the code). http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/ There's some more information here: http://googlecode.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/apollo-11-missions-...

That's great - I actually came here to say "this is cool in an abstract way but what the fuck am I looking at? I'd love to learn a little bit more about the system". Turns out space folks are great at sharing knowledge!

By the way, last night I read the radio transcript from the time Neil and Buzz exited the lunar module: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.step.html (that site has loads of other Apollo transcripts too). It's annotated and has links to pics and videos. Fascinating.

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#22

Post by NietTim » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:05 PM UTC

What would it take to make a working simulator from this? Except a whole lot of hardware of course

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#23

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:07 PM UTC

spain wrote: post #8

http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/listings/Comanche055/PINBALL_G... >Filename: PINBALL_GAME_BUTTONS_AND_LIGHTS.agc Can someone explain what this is? I doubt they had an actual game of pinball in their guidance computer.

[deleted]

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#24

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:07 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#25

Post by purringmeow » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:08 PM UTC

mrweasel wrote: post #20

It's of cause fun to have this code to look at, but is it really useful? I don't mean it in a condescending way, but is this actually someone at, say SpaceX, looks at and goes: "Oh so that's how they did that"?

I don't think so. I believe that code is really tightly coupled with the hardware and at least some part of it covers unique cases.

However, these LoC have been written almost 50 years ago! That's truly fascinating.

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#26

Post by cramerica » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:11 PM UTC

There are some pretty great comments in here:

ALARM_AND_ABORT.agc - http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/listings/Comanche055/ALARM_AND...

    TC       WHIMPER    -1   #  YES.  DON'T DO POODOO.  DO BAILOUT.

From the Guidance Computer Data Cards -http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/CMC_data_cards_15_Fabrizio_Ber...

"POODOO abort, does software restart (ENEMA) and "GO TO POOH" (flashing Verb 37) unless "AVERAGE G" is running then only software restart"

From THE_LUNAR_LANDING.agc - http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/listings/Luminary099/THE_LUNAR...

    033911,000064: 32,3017    06037        FLAGORGY        TC       INTPRET      #  DIONYSIAN FLAG WAVING


    034090,000243: 32,3241    13247        BZF      P63SPOT4               #  BRANCH IF ANTENNA ALREADY IN POSITION 1
    034091,000244: 
    034092,000245: 32,3242    33254        CAF      CODE500                #  ASTRONAUT:     PLEASE CRANK THE
    034093,000246: 32,3243    04616        TC       BANKCALL               #                 SILLY THING AROUND
    034094,000247: 32,3244    20623        CADR     GOPERF1                               
    034095,000248: 32,3245    16001        TCF      GOTOP00H               #  TERMINATE
    034096,000249: 32,3246    13235        TCF      P63SPOT3               #  PROCEED        SEE IF HE'S LYING


    034101,000254: 32,3251    04635        TC       POSTJUMP               #  OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD ...
    034102,000255: 32,3252    74126        CADR     BURNBABY

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#27

Post by sternenseemann » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:11 PM UTC

Graham24 wrote: post #16

what are bugger codes? http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/listings/Comanche055/MAIN.agc....

bugger codes is the AGC term for checksums. (see "Playing with Colossus" on this page: http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/)

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#28

Post by sternenseemann » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:11 PM UTC

stuartk wrote: post #10

In MAIN.agc there is a list of bugger words. Not that I know assembly in any meaningful way, but I've never come across this term before. On Googling, it seems to be something to do with a checksum value?

yep, checksums

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#29

Post by EnochSquareRoot » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:34 PM UTC

OMG. Where's the test coverage?

Re: Source code for the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer

#30

Post by mason240 » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 1:47 PM UTC

bjackman wrote: post #21

DanBC wrote: post #7

Not quite sure why this links to the code, and not the top level which has a lot more useful information (such as the simulator needed to run the code). http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/ There's some more information here: http://googlecode.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/apollo-11-missions-...

That's great - I actually came here to say "this is cool in an abstract way but what the fuck am I looking at? I'd love to learn a little bit more about the system". Turns out space folks are great at sharing knowledge! By the way, last night I read the radio transcript from the time Neil and Buzz exited the lunar module: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.step.html (that site has loads of other Apollo transcripts t…

>Turns out space folks are great at sharing knowledge!

I've read that one of the problems a new moon-or-beyond space program would have is that we are so far removed from the Apollo program that all institutional knowledge that was gained is gone because most of the engineers on those projects have passed away.