NASA "Hidden Figure" during Space Race dies at 101

[Jimbeaux]

Amazing story this is> Astronauts get much of the glory, and rightfully so, but the behind the scenes people that make things happen are often overlooked. Same thing in many industries I suppose:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ka...

Edited by Jimbeaux on Monday 24th February 16:19

[kuro]

Sad to hear. Some great achievements in her life.

[Eric Mc]

Good that she eventually received due recognition. Better late than never.

[Jimbeaux]

I try to remind people that the Apollo ships had less computer power than a cheap calculator, or some such comparison. Astronauts with pencil and paper and slide rules recalculating orbit rentry angles when something went wrong etc. I find that amazing. Some younger people don’t seem to believe it or think it possible.

[Beati Dogu]

Your phone charger probably has way more computing power than the Apollo guidance computer. No joke.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/306119-your-ph...

[Jimbeaux]

Beati Dogu said:

Your phone charger probably has way more computing power than the Apollo guidance computer. No joke.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/306119-your-ph...

I can believe that. It astounds me who remembers watching the Moon landingS, I know it must be on another level for tech savvy youngsters who have never lived without technology.

[Jimbeaux]

Beati Dogu said:

Your phone charger probably has way more computing power than the Apollo guidance computer. No joke.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/306119-your-ph...

I can believe that. It astounds me who remembers watching the Moon landingS, I know it must be on another level for tech savvy youngsters who have never lived without technology.

[bolidemichael]

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

[Jimbeaux]

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

To sit atop multiple stories of explosives that some scientists with pencils and slide rules put together and get exploded into orbit took testicular Grande’ of legendary proportions.

[Eric Mc]

Jimbeaux said:

I try to remind people that the Apollo ships had less computer power than a cheap calculator, or some such comparison. Astronauts with pencil and paper and slide rules recalculating orbit rentry angles when something went wrong etc. I find that amazing. Some younger people don’t seem to believe it or think it possible.

Because that isn't strictly speaking true.

The on board computers were pretty limited - even by the standards of the day. The navigation computer on both the Apollo Command and Lunar Modules were deliberately kept simple because it was thought reliability was far more important than capability. The reason why they could keep them simple was because they were not 100% reliant on them. They had on board "old style" navigation aides, such as a sextant. And, most importantly, NASA had access to the most powerful computers in the world, on the ground, at a number of locations. So all the really serious number crunching was done with those. On Apollo 13 when the spacecraft had to pretty much completely powered down, it was STILL possible to navigate the spacecraft using a combination of star sightings through the sextant and the ground computers.

[Eric Mc]

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

No Space Shuttles went anywhere near the moon. I presume you meant to say "space craft" or "space ship".

The "13 Minutes to the Moon" podcast is excellent.

[Eric Mc]

Jimbeaux said:

To sit atop multiple stories of explosives that some scientists with pencils and slide rules put together and get exploded into orbit took testicular Grande’ of legendary proportions.

They used computers - lots of them.

The myths surrounding Apollo grow by the day.

I am actually giving a lecture to a group in a few weeks on the myths and false stories that have grown up around the Apollo project.

Of course, this is nothing to do with crazy conspiracy theories, but everything to do with how some of the stories behind Apollo have been simplified and, in some cases, falsified over the 60 plus years of the story. Much of this drifting from the truth has not been intended to deliberately mislead. It's more to do with how writers and documentary makers have picked up on comments and statements made in other accounts and then encapsulated them as "facts" - and also how TV programmers have been sloppy and lazy in putting their stories together - partly to keep costs down and partly to keep the story fairly easy for the average viwer to understand.

The main area of myths that I will be tackling are -

The over emphasis of the German influence on the hardware development
The true facts behind the launch of the programme
The true story of the Block I and II Apollo Command Module and the true impact of the Apollo 1 fire
The true international aspects of Apollo - it wasn't as "All American" as many might think.
Why the programme was cut short.
The Apollo legacy today and how it is influencing current programmes

[Halmyre]

Eric Mc said:

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

No Space Shuttles went anywhere near the moon. I presume you meant to say "space craft" or "space ship".

I don't think Hans Zimmer invented the zimmer frame either.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that all those 'computers' in mission control were mostly dumb terminals or monitors; the real computers were in a room elsewhere.

[bolidemichael]

Halmyre said:

Eric Mc said:

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

No Space Shuttles went anywhere near the moon. I presume you meant to say "space craft" or "space ship".

I don't think Hans Zimmer invented the zimmer frame either.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that all those 'computers' in mission control were mostly dumb terminals or monitors; the real computers were in a room elsewhere.

Morning all. Indeed, space 'shuttle' was a misnomer, thank you for pointing that out.

Hans Zimmer did not invent the zimmer frame, I was being both facetious and topical.

[Halmyre]

bolidemichael said:

Halmyre said:

Eric Mc said:

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

No Space Shuttles went anywhere near the moon. I presume you meant to say "space craft" or "space ship".

I don't think Hans Zimmer invented the zimmer frame either.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that all those 'computers' in mission control were mostly dumb terminals or monitors; the real computers were in a room elsewhere.

Morning all. Indeed, space 'shuttle' was a misnomer, thank you for pointing that out.

Hans Zimmer did not invent the zimmer frame, I was being both facetious and topical.

Of course he didn't, that would be silly. But he did invent the neck restraint system used in Formula 1.

[bolidemichael]

Halmyre said:

bolidemichael said:

Halmyre said:

Eric Mc said:

bolidemichael said:

I would highly recommend the podcast series 13 minutes to the Moon which tells the story of the NASA Space Programme and the ambitious goals set by President J F Kennedy and the galvanising effect that this had on the nation.

It's a very intimate insight into the young and risk embracing team in the control room and also, transports you into the feeling within the space shuttles as they both orbit the moon, as in the case of Apollo 11 and actually land on the moon.

All of it is nicely produced and framed by a spacious and fitting soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, who also invented the Zimmer frame, as modelled by Harvey Weinstein in his recent court appearances.

No Space Shuttles went anywhere near the moon. I presume you meant to say "space craft" or "space ship".

I don't think Hans Zimmer invented the zimmer frame either.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that all those 'computers' in mission control were mostly dumb terminals or monitors; the real computers were in a room elsewhere.

Morning all. Indeed, space 'shuttle' was a misnomer, thank you for pointing that out.

Hans Zimmer did not invent the zimmer frame, I was being both facetious and topical.

Of course he didn't, that would be silly. But he did invent the neck restraint system used in Formula 1.

[Jimbeaux]

Eric Mc said:

Because that isn't strictly speaking true.

The on board computers were pretty limited - even by the standards of the day. The navigation computer on both the Apollo Command and Lunar Modules were deliberately kept simple because it was thought reliability was far more important than capability. The reason why they could keep them simple was because they were not 100% reliant on them. They had on board "old style" navigation aides, such as a sextant. And, most importantly, NASA had access to the most powerful computers in the world, on the ground, at a number of locations. So all the really serious number crunching was done with those. On Apollo 13 when the spacecraft had to pretty much completely powered down, it was STILL possible to navigate the spacecraft using a combination of star sightings through the sextant and the ground computers.

Thanks Eric, I appreciate the correction.
I suppose the part about the ships having little computing power was correct. I forgot about the huge ones on the ground. Interesting though that the space modules had navigation tools similar to wooden ocean shops of old!

[Jimbeaux]

Eric Mc said:

They used computers - lots of them.

The myths surrounding Apollo grow by the day.

I am actually giving a lecture to a group in a few weeks on the myths and false stories that have grown up around the Apollo project.

Of course, this is nothing to do with crazy conspiracy theories, but everything to do with how some of the stories behind Apollo have been simplified and, in some cases, falsified over the 60 plus years of the story. Much of this drifting from the truth has not been intended to deliberately mislead. It's more to do with how writers and documentary makers have picked up on comments and statements made in other accounts and then encapsulated them as "facts" - and also how TV programmers have been sloppy and lazy in putting their stories together - partly to keep costs down and partly to keep the story fairly easy for the average viwer to understand.

The main area of myths that I will be tackling are -

The over emphasis of the German influence on the hardware development
The true facts behind the launch of the programme
The true story of the Block I and II Apollo Command Module and the true impact of the Apollo 1 fire
The true international aspects of Apollo - it wasn't as "All American" as many might think.
Why the programme was cut short.
The Apollo legacy today and how it is influencing current programmes

That would be great to attend. Sorry I am across the pond at the moment. Is it available for viewing afterwards? Do you expect some moon landing hoaxers to show up and shout you down?

[Eric Mc]

Jimbeaux said:

Thanks Eric, I appreciate the correction.
I suppose the part about the ships having little computing power was correct. I forgot about the huge ones on the ground. Interesting though that the space modules had navigation tools similar to wooden ocean shops of old!

Yes,. there is a nice picture of Jim Lovell using the sextant -



Somebody said that the computing power available on the on board computers was similar to that of a modern singing-greeting card.

But it was good enough for the job required.

[Eric Mc]

Jimbeaux said:

That would be great to attend. Sorry I am across the pond at the moment. Is it available for viewing afterwards? Do you expect some moon landing hoaxers to show up and shout you down?

We don't record our talks so no video, I'm afraid. I don't expect any "moon-hoax believers" but you never know.

A recent talk (not by me) was on the work and theories of Dr Emanuel Velikovsky - and that got a bit lively.