Share

Who Created the First Software Used in a Spacecraft?

20 Comments on this Post

  1. This is a difficult question to answer because you’re not really being specific. What kind of computer, what purpose? Do you want the names of people, or the organization?

    Most guidance computers for rockets were operated by ground computers and communicated with the vehicle by radio. Do those count? Most general computers were based on the ground as well, until hardware was not only sophisticated enough, but small and light enough. What about those?

    Under the assumption you are referring to the first digital computer in space, here’s what I think the answer is (the long version):

    The Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile project which started active service in 1962 had a need for an on-board flight computer. This was due to the effect of nuclear radiation on radio communications with ground-based guidance computers, thus rendering the vehicle useless and dangerous as an ICBM used to carry and deploy tactical nuclear weapon payloads. The answer to this was the Autonetics D-17B flight computer.

    Autonetics, based in Anaheim, CA. at the time (was a division of North American Aviation, now a part of Boeing through several mergers), was responsible for the system both hardware and software, Thompson Ramo-Wooldridge Incorporated (a part of Northrop Grumman at the time, now TRW Automotive) was responsible for the guidance equations and designed the targeting computer system which ran on an IBM 709 mainframe computer which made the system remotely programmable from Strategic Air Command (SAC).

    According to the “Proceedings of the Second Meeting of the Minuteman Computer User Group” which was held at Disneyland Hotel California in June 11-12, 1970, a Mr. Donald H. Geister, Research Engineer in the Aerospace Engineering department at the University of Michigan was listed as one of the Executive Committee members who was present and listed “Software”. If I had to name one person responsible for programming the D-17B, it would probably be him. Granted the system was built and programmed by many people and probably had plenty of committee based contributions, because nothing that goes into space in whole or in part, especially that day and age, went up based on one person acting alone.

    The first successful “all-up” test of all stages including re-entry for the vehicle was accomplished in February 1961, from the Air Force Missile Test Center in Florida. This was the first time a digital computer flew in space as far as I know.

    Cool Wiki picture:
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Autonetics_D-17.JPG

    I have a picture of the D-17B sitting in the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA.

    What amazes me is that this computer not only had a user group, which held a conference, at Disneyland of all places, NOT IN SECRET!!!

    Reply
  2. I agree with your point of view, your article has given me a lot of help and benefited me a lot. Thanks. Hope you continue to write such excellent articles.

    Reply
  3. Can you be more specific about the content of your enticle? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://accounts.binance.com/en/register-person?ref=P9L9FQKY

    Reply
  4. Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.

    Reply
  5. I am currently writing a paper that is very related to your content. I read your article and I have some questions. I would like to ask you. Can you answer me? I’ll keep an eye out for your reply. 20bet

    Reply
  6. Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://accounts.binance.com/sk/register?ref=YY80CKRN

    Reply
  7. Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.

    Reply
  8. Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.

    Reply
  1. By www.cheaplouisvuittons.com on March 8, 2023 at 8:49 pm

    http://www.cheaplouisvuittons.com

    cheap louis vuitton store

  2. By real louis vuitton outlet on March 14, 2023 at 6:53 pm

    real louis vuitton outlet

    cheap real louis vuitton cheap louis vuitton louis vuitton outlet louis vuitton outlet online louis vuitton outlet store cheap louis vuitton outlet real louis vuitton outlet

  3. By buy magic mushroom online on March 22, 2024 at 7:56 am

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More here to that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  4. By side effects of ozempic on March 22, 2024 at 8:11 am

    … [Trackback]

    […] Info to that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  5. By howa 5.56 bolt action rifle on March 27, 2024 at 4:03 am

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More to that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  6. By jebol togel on May 19, 2024 at 4:31 am

    … [Trackback]

    […] Read More here on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  7. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More on on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  8. By อะไหล่อุตสาหกรรม on July 8, 2024 at 5:41 pm

    … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  9. By รับจํานํารถ on July 12, 2024 at 6:35 pm

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More here on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  10. By FB URL Shortener on August 6, 2024 at 4:15 pm

    FB URL Shortener

    […]below you will find the link to some web pages that we assume you need to visit[…]

  11. By เช่ารถ alphard on August 13, 2024 at 5:33 pm

    … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

  12. By รับทำ SEO on September 14, 2024 at 9:31 pm

    … [Trackback]

    […] Find More Information here on that Topic: technorazzi.com/2010/07/who-created-the-first-software-used-in-a-spacecraft/ […]

Leave a Reply