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Virtual AGC and AGS
  AGC Document Archive from MIT/Dibner (HRST)

yaAGC
yaYUL
yaDSKY
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Luminary
Colossus
Language Manual
Block I AGC

Acknowledgement

The Virtual AGC project would not have been possible without the archive of AGC-related scanned documents formerly maintained at the Apollo Guidance Computer website of MIT's Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology (HRST).  Unfortunately, the Dibner Institute has apparently closed, and their AGC website has disappeared.  More accurately, the website has been "archived" at Caltech; the "archive" has been marked "under construction" for a long time, and you can only get to it by googling the contents, so I don't know if it's intended to be publically accessible or not.  In the meantime, the AGC document scans will be hosted here at Virtual AGC.  The original HRST website contained a number of interesting things besides the scans, but for now I'm reluctant to host them here since I'm not sure of the copyright status.  I have chosen not to include any material here that I suspect may have copyrighted problems; if I'm wrong, let me know!

The original HRST website was maintained by Alexander "Sandy" Brown, and his contribution should be observed.

Alterations

The scans presented here at Virtual AGC have in some cases been improved from their presentation at the original HRST site.  For example, you may find that some documents have added bookmark panels, have added previously-missing pages, have replacements for some previously-garbled pages, or even have been completely improved scans.  Improvements are especially plain in the core documents relevant to Virtual AGC.  Some of the documents suffer from the way in which optical character recognition (OCR) was performed, so if you have improved scanned images for any of these docs, please send them to me!

Note that the original HRST site contained credits for some of the scanned documents.  In other words, you could see who provided the source material or scans.  I no longer have access to those credits, and so haven't included them here, except in the rare cases where I know who provided the source material or scans.  If you wish to be credited for any of the material, please email me with your information.

Contents

Any file whose size is not explicitly marked is 2.5 Mbytes or less.
  1. AC Electronics, Apollo Guidance and Navigation Lunar Module Student Study Guide (1967, 9 Mbytes). The readability has been improved a little (not much!) over the original HRST version.
  2. Ramon L. Alonso, Hugh Blair-Smith, and Albert L. Hopkins, Some Aspects of the Logical Design of a Control Computer: A Case Study (1971).
  3. Ramon L. Alonso et al., A Digital Control Computer Developmental Model 1B (1962, 12 Mbytes).
  4. Ramon L. Alonso and Albert L. Hopkins, The Apollo Guidance Computer (1963, 3 Mbytes).
  5. Ramon L. Alonso, Albert L. Hopkins, and Herbert A. Thaler, A Multiprocessing Structure (1967). The readability has been improved a little over the original HRST version.
  6. Ramon L. Alonso and J. Hal Laning, Design Principles for a General Control Computer (1960, 4 Mbytes). The readability has been improved a little over the original HRST version.
  7. Anonymous, Astronauts' Guidance and Navigation Course Notes (1962, 3 Mbytes).  The readability has been improved a little over the original HRST version.
  8. Anonymous, More Apollo Guidance Flexibility Sought (1964).
  9. Anonymous, Guidance System Operations Plan, AS - 278: Vol. 1, CM GNCS Operations (1966, 18 Mbytes).  AS-278 was a cancelled mission (because of Apollo 1), which would have been the first orbital test of the LM.  Instead, the same crew provided that first test in Apollo 9, at a much later date.
  10. Anonymous, Colossus Assemble Revision 249.  In place of the original 82M PDF provided by MIT HRST, we choose to provide individual PDFs for each page of the listing.  Our page images have been greatly improved from the original HRST version by replacement of over 50 garbled pages.  The origin of the original scan at HRST is unknown, but the replacement pages (of which there are many!) were provided by Mr. Gary Neff.  We have also obtained a much-improved scan from a different copy, thanks to original AGC developer Fred Martin.
  11. Anonymous, Control of Flight Software Development Costs (1971).
  12. Anonymous, Apollo/Skylab ASTP and Shuttle Orbiter Major End Items (1978).
  13. Anonymous, Luminary 131.  In place of the original 620M PDF provided by MIT HRST, we choose to provide individual page JPEG images (209M) which are technically of lower quality, but it's unlikely you could tell that without a side-by-side comparison.  Our scan has been improved somewhat from the original HRST version by replacement of a garbled page.  The original scans at HRST, and the replacement pages presented here, were both originally provided by Mr. Gary Neff, from a printout preserved by Mr. David Craig, though unfortunately the online version is of greatly reduced quality from the scans provided by Mr. Neff (and now lost).  (Don't blame me ... it was before my time.)
  14. R. Battin et al., The Compleat Sunrise being a description of Program Sunrise (Sunrise 33 - NASA DWG# 1021102) (1964, 4 Mbytes).
  15. Hugh Blair-Smith, Annotations for Eldon Hall's book, Journey to the Moon:  The History of the Apollo Guidance Computer (1997).  This is an etext created by Mr. Hugh Blair-Smith, rather than a scan of a historical document.
  16. Hugh Blair-Smith, YUL System - Pass 0 (4 Mbytes).
  17. Hugh Blair-Smith, AGC4 Memo # 9 - Block II Instructions (1966).  See also pages 30-50, provided as etext by Hugh Blair-Smith (rather than being scanned).
  18. Edward M. Copps Jr., Recovery from Transient Failures of the Apollo Guidance Computer (1968).
  19. Robert Crisp and D. Keene, Apollo Command and Service Module Reaction Control by the Digital Autopilot (1968).
  20. C. S. Draper volunteering to become an astronaut, and Robert Seamans replying (1961).
  21. C. S. Draper et al., Space Navigation Guidance and Control. Volume I. (1965, 7 Mbytes).
  22. C. S. Draper et al., Space Navigation Guidance and Control. Volume II. (1965, 12 Mbytes).
  23. Charles M. Duke Jr. and Michael S. Jones, Human Performance during a Simulated Apollo Mid-Course Navigation Sighting (1964, 5 Mbytes).
  24. J. C. Dunbar, R. A. Larson and P. T. Augart, An Automated Documentation Technique for Integrating Apollo Crew Procedures and Computer Logic (1966).
  25. Maxime A. Faget, The Evolution of Flight Control of the Apollo Mission (1976).
  26. Philip G. Felleman, Hybrid Simulation of the Apollo Guidance Navigation and Control System (1966).
  27. F. K. Glick and S. R. Femino, A Comprehensive Digital Simulation for the Verification of Apollo Flight Software (1970).
  28. Alan Green, Digital Development Memo #267: Vlock II Keyboard and Display Program (1965).
  29. Alan Green, Keyboard and Display Program and Operation (1967, 4 Mbytes).
  30. Alan I. Green and Robert J. Filene, Keyboard and Display Program and Operation (1967).
  31. The Guidance Software Validation Committee, Apollo Guidance Software Development and Validation Plan (1967).
  32. Eldon C Hall, The Apollo Guidance Computer - A Designer's View (1982).
  33. Eldon C Hall, Case History of the Apollo Guidance Computer (1966, 3 Mbytes).
  34. Eldon C Hall, A Case history of the AGC Integrated Logic Circuits (1965).
  35. Eldon C Hall, Computer Displays (1962).
  36. Eldon C Hall, From the Farm to Pioneering with Digital Computers: An Autobiography (2000).
  37. Eldon C Hall, General Design Characteristics of the Apollo Guidance Computer (1963, 3 Mbytes).
  38. Eldon C Hall, MIT's Role in Project Apollo, Vol. III: Computer Subsystem (1972, 11 Mbytes).
  39. Eldon C Hall, Reliability History of the Apollo Guidance Computer (1972).
  40. Eldon C Hall and Richard Jansson, Miniature Packaging of Electronics in Three-Dimensional Form (1959, 5 Mbytes).
  41. James A. Hand, Computer-Aided Inertial Platform Realignment in Manned Space Flight (1968, 31 Mbytes).
  42. James A. Hand, MIT's Role in Project Apollo, Vol. I: Project Management, Systems Development, Abstracts and Bibliography (1971, 13 Mbytes).
  43. David L. Hanley, Jayne Partridge, and Eldon C. Hall, The Application of Failure Analysis in Procuring and Screening of Integrated Circuits (1965, 3 Mbytes).
  44. David G. Hoag, Apollo Navigation, Guidance, and Control Systems: A Progress Report (1969, 4 Mbytes).
  45. David G. Hoag, The History of Apollo On Board Guidance and Navigation (1976).
  46. David G. Hoag, LEM Guidance Computer Programs to be Supplied by MIT (1965).
  47. C. Lester Hogan, "Types of Integrated Circuits" (1964) [Magazine Article].
  48. Albert L. Hopkins Jr., Ramon Alonso, and Hugh Blair-Smith, "Logical Description for the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC4)" (1963, 10 Mbytes) [Report].
  49. Albert L. Hopkins, "A Fault-Tolerant Information Processing Concept for Space Vehicles." (1970) [Report].
  50. Madeline S. Johnson and Donald R. Giller, "MIT's Role in Project Apollo, Vol. V: The Software Effort." (1971, 30 Mbytes) [Report].
  51. Malcolm W Johnston, "A Manual LEM Backup Guidance System." (1964) [Report].
  52. David N. Kaye, "The Indispensible Men" (1969) [Magazine Article].
  53. W. M. Keese et al., "Management Procedures in Computer Programming for Apollo - Interim Report" (1964) [Report].
  54. Allan R. Klumpp, "A Manually Retargeted Automatic Descent and Landing System for LEM" (1966, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  55. J. Hal Laning and N. Zierler, "A Program for Translation of Mathematical Equations for Whirlwind I." (1954) [Report].
  56. T. J. Lawton and C. J. Muntz, "Organization of Computation and Control in the Apollo Guidance Computer" (1965) [Report].
  57. Frederick H. Martin and Richard H. Battin, "Computer Controlled Steering of the Apollo Spacecraft" (1967) [Report].
  58. Frederick H. Martin and Richard H. Battin, "Computer-Controlled Steering of the Apollo Spacecraft," Spacecraft, 5 (1968, 4 Mbytes), 400 - 407.
  59. J. McNeil, J. E. Miller and J. Sitomer, "Use of Body Mounted Inertial Sensors in an Apollo Guidance, Navigation and Control System" (1966, 4 Mbytes) [Report].
  60. John E. Miller and Ain Laats, "Apollo Guidance and Control System Flight Experience." (1969) [Report].
  61. George Mueller, "Final Report: Apollo Guidance Software Task Force" (1968) [Report].
  62. Charles A Muntz, "Users Guide to the Block II AGC/LGC Interpreter" (1965, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  63. J. V. Mutchler, "Apollo CMC/LGC Software Development Plan" (1968, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  64. J. L. Nevins, "Man-Machine Design for the Apollo Navigation, Guidance and Control System." (1967, 21 Mbytes) [Manuscript].
  65. J. L. Nevins and I. S. Johnson, "Man-Computer Interface for the Apollo Guidance, Navigation and Control System" (1967, 9 Mbytes) [Report].
  66. J. L. Nevins, I. S. Johnson and T. B. Sheridan, "Man/Machine Allocation in the Apollo Navigation, Guidance, and Control System" (1968, 24 Mbytes) [Report].
  67. J. L. Nevins, E. A. Woodin and R. W. Metzinger, "Man-Machine Simulations for the Apollo Navigation, Guidance, and Control System." (1967, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  68. James L. Nevins, "Man-Machine Design for the Apollo Navigation, Guidance, and Control System--Revisited: Apollo, A Transition in the Art of Piloting a Vehicle." (1970, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  69. Robert N Noyce, "Integrated Circuits in Military Equipment" (1964) [Magazine Article].
  70. Jayne Partridge, L David Hanley and Eldon C. Hall, "Progress Report on Attainable Reliability of Integrated Circuits for Systems Application" (1964, 5 Mbytes) [Report].
  71. J. C. Pennypacker, "Whole Number Strapdown Computations" (1966, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  72. Daniel Rankin, A Model of the Cost of Software Development for the Apollo Spacecraft Computer (1972, 5 Mbytes) [SM dissertation, MIT].
  73. Bernard I. Savage and Alice Drake, "AGC4 Basic Training Manual. Volume I of II" (1967) [Report].  This is an improved scan (from a different physical copy) from the original HRST version.
  74. Norman E. Sears, "Technical Development Status of Apollo Guidance and Navigation" (1964, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  75. Edwin D. Smally, "Block II AGC Self-Check and Show-Banksum" (1966) [Report].
  76. Raymond D. Speer, "Strict Control Kept Out Semiconductor Flaws" (1969) [Magazine Article].
  77. Madeline M. Sullivan, "Hybrid Simulation of the Apollo Guidance and Navigation System" (1965, 3 Mbytes) [Report].
  78. B. K. Thomas, "Apollo 8 Proves Value of Onboard Control" (1969, 3 Mbytes) [Magazine Article].
  79. Milton B. Trageser and David G. Hoag, "Apollo Spacecraft Guidance System" (1965, 25 Mbytes) [Report].
This page was last modified by Ronald Burkey on 2009-07-30.


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