An “Online” Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) Simulator

“One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”.

Neil Armstrong, on the Moon, 20.7.1969,  20:17:40.

Yesterday, 20 July 1969
I was not born yet, but I have a certain envy for those who were there!
The whole world has stopped for this event. When Armstrong laid his foot on the lunar soil: “He touched” he was pronounced all over the world. Unbelievable.

Today, 20 July 2019
50 years have passed.
In the world of the Cloud, in the world of quantum computers … it is difficult to believe that in 1969 there was such a technology that it allows landing on another planet.
But it is so .. with a small computer and very little fuel it was possible to do impossible things.

Since i am a computer scientist, I want to talk about the Apollo mission guidance system, truly innovative and unique for its time. … maybe someone will soon create an extension for Business Central (BCADES – Business Central Apollo Driving Emulator System) “…

I recommend the truly beautiful film “The First Man”, on the story of Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11 Team.

AGC (Apollo Guidance Computer)

How did they lead the Apollo? …. using a computer .. the AGC!

“AGC was the main computer system of the Apollo program that successfully landed 12 astronauts on Moon. There was one AGC on each of the Apollo Command Modules and another one on each Lunar Module. There was also a second backup computer system called AGS (Abort Guidance System) on the Lunar Modules.”

AGC Schema

Virtual AGC Emulator

It is possible to download the AGC Emulator, built according to the official documents released and available online on the NASA website.

http://svtsim.com/moonjs/agc.html http://www.ibiblio.org/apollo/download.html

Tomorrow, 20 July 2030

“Fortran with Apollo 11, Python and R for Mission to Mars”
Roberto Stefanetti, 20-07-2019

Stay Tuned!