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Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching

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On 2026-03-22 05:27, c186282 wrote:
> On 3/21/26 15:26, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2026-03-21 04:23, c186282 wrote:
>>> On 3/20/26 09:11, s|b wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:46:39 -0400, c186282 wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> Running on Linux?
>>>>>     Ah, just one rPi could have replaced
>>>>>     tons of hardware on their moon rocket !
>>>>
>>>> I'm guessing a simple smartphone wouldn't do a bad job either.
>>>
>>>    PIs have that nice big row of pins for
>>>    running devices, phones don't - so I'll
>>>    stick with my suggestion  :-)
>>
>> I would guess the computers used in the Apollo thing had lots of 
>> inputs from other on board instruments and sensors, and possibly outputs.
> 
>    Check it out. They were HORRIBLE computers.
> 
>    The lander 'computer' used something called
>    "rope memory" ... vaguely similar to mag core,
>    but the cores were hand-wired into strings
>    by little old ladies. Better tech WAS to be
>    had by '69 ... but the Apollo craft were
>    govt specced long before that and rather old
>    tech fixes were used.

Yes. But I'm sure that the landing computer got the altitude reading 
directly from the radar, it did not have to be typed in. Things like 
that that a general purpose computer doesn't do.

> 
>    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_rope_memory
> 
>    In the late 80s, a Navy buddy took me on a tour
>    of his attack sub. The sonar room had the highest
>    computer tech ... some huge box (DEC I think)
>    with some of those old hard drives where you
>    could literally remove the platters. In short
>    it was late 60s/early 70s tech on an 80s machine.
> 
>    But, as said, the subs were specced-out long
>    before ... a decade+ behind the curve before
>    the first one left the dock. The sonar guy
>    was top-tier, could only say SO much, but
>    he'd become super-expert at leveraging that
>    'ancient' tech. Amazing what CAN be done
>    with 'old stuff' if you're motivated.

Indeed.

> 
>>>    Of course either is a 'super-computer' in
>>>    an Apollo program context .....
>>>
>>>    The 1949 movie context ... they'd have never
>>>    believed such things could ever exist.
> 
>    '49 ... 'computers' were gigantic assemblies of
>    vac tubes and relays. Not so many had even
>    heard of the things or had any grasp of what
>    could be done with them. 'Programming' was
>    oft done by literally moving plug-wires around.
>    Clocks were in the kilohertz range. Memory
>    was measured in bytes. 'RAM' ... think things
>    like mercury-delay lines, 'hard drives' were
>    DRUMS.
> 
>    But, they DID get better.
> 
>    Something like a Pi-5 ... it would have been
>    just unbelievable in '49 - SciFi of centuries
>    beyond.
> 
>    Hmm ... ever see a 70s movie called "The Forbin
>    Project" ? Their ultra-computer (apparently that
>    included some grown brain-tissue) filled up an
>    entire mountain fortress. Believable at the time.
>    Would have been masses of discrete transistors
>    back then. (DID see a mainframe built from those,
>    still in use, back around '80 - 6x6x6 foot box,
>    county govt, serial terminals, tty machines, COBOL)
> 
>    Note things did NOT go well with Forbin's 'AI' ...
> 


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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"Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-18 05:55 -0400
  Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Woozy Song <suzyw0ng@outlook.com> - 2026-03-19 15:52 +0800
    Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-19 04:43 -0400
  Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-03-19 15:14 +0100
    Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-19 08:49 -0700
    Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-19 23:46 -0400
      Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-03-20 14:11 +0100
        Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-20 23:23 -0400
          Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-21 20:26 +0100
            Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-22 00:27 -0400
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Joe Makowiec <makowiec@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-22 11:26 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-22 08:46 -0400
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-22 21:10 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-23 03:35 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-23 11:34 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-23 07:18 -0400
          Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2026-03-26 02:36 +0000
            Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-26 03:34 +0000
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-03-26 03:55 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-26 02:46 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-03-26 08:59 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-03-27 13:54 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-03-27 18:28 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-27 21:13 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 00:11 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-03-28 21:56 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-03-29 03:47 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-03-29 16:49 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-30 01:18 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-30 11:50 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-30 10:33 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-30 20:30 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-30 21:53 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-03-31 08:58 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-31 17:23 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-03-31 10:58 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-31 19:21 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-04-01 15:06 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-01 21:21 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-03-31 15:53 -0500
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-04-01 06:47 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-04-02 15:53 +1300
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-04-02 08:04 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-03-31 21:28 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-04-01 06:51 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-04-01 20:50 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-01 23:12 +0100
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-02 05:57 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-04-03 08:58 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 23:56 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-27 21:17 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 03:07 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-28 00:07 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-03-28 00:13 -0500
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 06:47 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:44 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:40 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-28 06:45 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-03-28 15:04 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-29 12:12 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-28 11:33 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-29 11:57 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-03-29 09:29 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-29 16:11 -0400
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-03-29 17:02 -0400
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-03-26 08:41 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-27 09:41 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-03-27 08:41 -0700
            Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-03-26 03:46 +0000
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-26 02:27 -0400
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-03-26 08:40 -0700
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-26 21:42 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-03-27 18:24 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-27 18:27 +0000
                Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-28 14:27 +0100
            Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-03-26 01:37 -0400
              Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-26 18:33 +0000
            Re: "Destination Moon" (1949) - Worth Watching rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-26 07:01 +0000

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