Apollo 11 is a well-known mission, marking humanity’s first-ever landing on the Moon. While much about this mission is celebrated, there are still several questions and misconceptions surrounding it. One certainty is the composition of its computer, which, by today’s standards, might seem surprisingly modest.
The computer used for Apollo 11 was known as Block II, and its components were indeed curious, featuring a mere 2 MHz processor, 2 KB of RAM, and 32 KB of storage. These specifications may appear minuscule by contemporary standards, where even a typical smartphone surpasses them by hundreds or thousands of times. It’s a testament to how far technology has advanced. Yet, despite these limitations, the computer proved more than adequate to control the entire mission and facilitate the Moon landing, highlighting its remarkable engineering.
The entire machine weighed over 33 kilograms and boasted a simple screen for displaying information, along with a basic keyboard and mouse. It may seem rudimentary, but it was pioneering technology. This was a true test by fire, as Apollo 11 embarked on an ambitious and inherently risky journey. The success of this modest set of components paved the way for the remarkable achievements we enjoy today.
Not only were the components modest, but the computer’s programming was also a marvel of complexity. The goal was to ensure that a system set to cross unprecedented boundaries in human exploration could operate with complete reliability and safety. Every conceivable obstacle was anticipated, and, in case of failure, the last resort was to reboot, reverting to a known state within seconds. This practice, common today when something isn’t functioning properly, was not as prevalent at the time, let alone the computer initiating automatic reboots in case of errors.
Considering that at the time, home computing was virtually non-existent, finding qualified and knowledgeable individuals to operate such a system was a formidable challenge. The first personal computers didn’t become widely available until the 1980s, and anyone who owned one would have had a significantly more potent machine in their home than the one that accompanied Apollo 11.
Reflecting on this achievement, it’s fascinating to consider how far technology has come in such a short span. Today, we have immensely powerful devices weighing just a few grams. It’s a testament to the progress we’ve made and how this pioneering technology, despite its humble beginnings, played a crucial role in advancing many fields of science and engineering.
