Apollo space flights

[seadart]

With all the gagets around now using memory (ram etc) what was the size of the memory taken on the Apollo flights to the moon?

[sddsddean]

Can't actually tell you, but the normal comparison used is that the computers on the command and lunar modules had about the same computing power as a modern pocket calculator. Also bear in mind, that the first time I heard this comparison was a bout 10 years ago.

[Clanad]

Although seadart's estimate is probably about right one has to keep in mind that the onboard computer and its program didn't have to do much computing. The navigational computing, so essential to a successful mission, was all accomplished in the huge main frame computers at Mission Control in Houston, TX. The data from the computations were then uploaded via telemetry to the onboard computers that simply carried out the instructions. Only a relatively small amount of RAM was required by the on board computer and therefore did not have to store a great deal of guidance data...

[seadart]

Thanks for the answers. I didn't have an estimate though ?

[kempie]

Each lunar mission had two 16-bit Raytheon Apollo Guidance Computers (AGC) comprised of 32 kilowords (equivalent to 64kB) of ROM and 4 kilowords (8kB) of RAM, one in the Command Module and another in the Lunar Module as Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems.

The Lunar Module also had an 18-bit TRW Abort Guidance System (AGS) - ROM 2 kilowords (4.5kB) & RAM 2 kilowords (4.5kB) - as a backup to its AGC. The AGS could be used to take off from the Moon, and to rendezvous with the Command Module, but not for landing.

The Saturn V used for orbit insertion had a 28-bit IBM Launch Vehicle Digital Computer (LVDC) with 32 kilowords (112kB) of memory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_C omputer

[seadart]

So how much does the Shuttle have now then?

[ryepie]

http://www.dansdata.com/spacecomp.htm