Apollo Comms Part 34: Trying every function of the Apollo command system

We finally have our Apollo command system all working! Let's understand and try every function so we can hack the Apollo spacecraft the next time they launch it...

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Elevator Music Credit: Crinoline Dreams by Kevin MacLeod

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[brunonikodemski]

This is good. Our company designed and built the IMUs, which interacted with the Guidance Computers and the DSKYs to actually direct the whole Guidance System. I myself spent countless hours, often overtime at nights, working on various problems. I still have some pinout tools for the various mil-connectors. One common problem was that the wiring was always made as short as possible, to reduce weight. As such, there were "stress points" at many connectors, which caused wire breakage right at the joint with the pin. Mostly due to vibration or thermal shrinkage (often not considered by the mechanical engineers). We had special "repair kits" for these. Also, one time at Boeing, they had wrapped a wire bundle with some kind of very tight tie-down, and that tie-down actually smashed the wire insulation, and caused wire shorting. It took us two whole days to figure this out, since they were in a vacuum chamber, and nobody wanted to dump the vacuum. The tiedowns were never needed but they just followed normal procedure, and created an additional problem. This was actually common during those programs, from people wanting to do too much, too fast. Murphy's Law alway intervenes.

[aserta]

You know... we used to joke you guys will bring back the program one part at a time... but man. The more you guys dig, the more i think you should receive a blank cheque and all the manpower you can muster...

[musiqtee]

28:29 _“Sort of Remote Desktop for Apollo…”_ Now, *that* quote made my day… 😂

[gvii]

It may be just a light or a simulated console, but it's beyond fascinating seeing all this equipment up and communicating with one another. Having someone who has figured all this stuff out explain how they were able to do what they did in the era that they did it, gives you a much greater appreciation for what they accomplished. It's one of those things that just never gets old. From the most complicated systems to the most seemingly mundane, I could watch this stuff all day and never get tired of it.

[Spookieham]

During this entire sequence of videos its very clear that Systems Engineering as a discipline really came of age with Apollo. Each one of those subsystems is fiendishly complex ( the cumulative aggregation of the various radio signals is a thing of beauty) yet they all meshed in harmony. The immense cost of Apollo really comes into focus when you consider how much engineering effort just went into the parts on the desk.

[graemedavidson]

I’m still in awe at how all this was developed and executed. The forethought and implementation is astounding! Congratulations to your team for figuring it all out and getting it working.

[rdwatson]

I laughed out loud at the absurdity of all that equipment just to turn a light on and back off... but love every minute of the entire Apollo comms series.

[kristofferlkke-srensen]

I thought you guys would never top the AGC restoration, but man was I wrong! This is absolutely astonishing! Both the work, foresight etc by the original engineers, but also you guys reverse engineering skills. I’m flabbergasted. What you are doing, is documenting the stone age of modern technology in a fascinating and modern way. Hats off to you - this effort is just amazing! 🎉

[OleJanssen]

With some luck, CuriousMarc might actually put man back on the moon before NASA does.

[mariusboc]

How is it possible that every Apollo clip made here on this channel AMAZES me? You sirs are doing an EXCELLENT job in quality, content, everything! Thank you so much for this!!

[hymermobiler]

Thanks for another 37 minutes of genius

[pipsqueak]

Well done guys.. Watching the tape commands remotely control the AGC is amazing. Also it's incredible what the engineers managed to design and build back in the 1960's. Please keep going with this series as far as you possibly can, it's fascinating, but also wonderful to see a piece of living history preserved.

[angst_]

Apollo Project Part 234: Testing, Ignition, and Force Measurement of our Salvaged Rocketdyne F-1

[Hope_Boat]

It's fascinating to contemplate that the punched paper tape invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801 was used to send data to a computer at the surface of the moon a hundred sixty heights years later.

[important]

Amazing work from Marc, Eric, Mike, and all the others. I struggled for 20 minutes trying to connect a bluetooth device yesterday, and here you are doing punch tape to PC talking.

[projectartichoke]

Your videos are always so immensely enjoyable! Thanks so much for making them.

[amyslittlehelper]

I love this series. And I'm a bit envious. Way, way cool beyond words. Kudos to all of you!

[MarcelHuguenin]

Wow, another awesome episode to behold. Together you guys are a real dream team. I find it so fascinating you are able to reverse engineer all of this tech and understand the thinking of that time on the how and why. Thank you so very much Marc and team, it was really entertaining.

[ALS]

Just imagine. All these things, man made. I kudos everyone, and thank you Mark for showing us the "remote desktop" version of Apolo. Thank you again !

[VEQH]

In episode 100 I wouldn't be surprised if they just go ahead and rebuild an apollo capsule