NASA Computers 1957-1959 IBM 704 - VANGUARD SATELLITE Launch 'Science in Space' (Burroughs Datatron)

1960 film from the National Academy of Sciences focuses on the 1957 to 1959 time period and the developments in the U.S. Space exploration activities especially the early Satellite Program and Vanguard Project. Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), established to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Vanguard rockets were used by Project Vanguard from 1957 to 1959.

In response to the Soviet Russia launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the U.S. increased its funding and research into space satellites and related technologies. Numerous launches were attempted including the unfortunate televised failure of Vanguard TV3 on December 6, 1957. On March 17, 1958, Vanguard 1 was successfully launched into earth orbit.

Space Race and Digital Computers - - - - -

From an historical perspective, this time period was one of tremendous growth in the early digital computer field. Calculations for launch of spacecraft and determining orbital trajectories required high powered computers, along with sophisticated tracking equipment.

This film shows several early computers in use at that time.

About the Computers Seen in this film - - - - - - -

Time index: 15:50
IBM 704 Scientific Computer
IBM 704 Data Processing Machine was introduced by IBM in 1954. It was the first mass-produced computer with floating-point arithmetic hardware. It was designed for scientific and engineering applications. The 704 was a large-scale, vacuum-tube based, high-speed electronic, stored program calculator. It used core memory rather than Williams tubes. IBM produced 123 of the model 704 computers between 1955 and 1960.
Related 704 peripheral equipment included the 711 Punched Card Reader, 716 Alphabetic Printer, 721 Punched Card Recorder, 727 Magnetic Tape Units and 753 Tape Control Unit, 733 Magnetic Drum Reader and Recorder, and 737 Magnetic Core Storage Unit.
The US Navy utilized the IBM 704 to receive and analyze telemetry data from the Vanguard satellite to calculate and predict the real time orbit of Vanguard. (The 704 was also used by the U.S. to track the orbit of Sputnik.)
According to IBM Archives, in 1958, an IBM 705 computer at IBM's Vanguard Computing Center aided in the launch and tracking of Explorer I, the first non-Soviet Earth satellite. The satellite disclosed evidence of Earth-circling radiation belts. The 705 data processing system was a powerful magnetic tape computer capable of 1,364,000 logical decisions a minute.

Burroughs Electrodata “Datatron”
Burroughs “Datatron” computer (seen only very briefly in the film) was introduced in 1954 by Electrodata Corporation. Burroughs Corporation acquired Electrodata in 1966 and marketed the Datatron computer as part of the Burroughs line.
Although initially successful, both the IBM 704 and the Burroughs Datatron computers were essentially becoming obsolete technology by 1960 when this film was released. They continued to be used by many organizations into the 1960’s. However, they were no longer manufactured as newer faster machines became available. (Note: Burroughs acquired Sperry Corporation in 1986 and formed UNISYS, which now owns all Burroughs computer copyrights.)

IBM Archives: The IBM 704

Facts about the Burroughs Datatron (ElectroData)

Article: Tracking the Man-Made Satellite

Vanguard – A History (NASA publication)

Many thanks to Speakeasy Archives for digital transfer of original film

Uploaded for educational use and historical review and comment only.

[stephanweinberger]

It's really interesting to see the Soviet achievements mentioned as equally important to the US's in a film of that era.

[KaliferDeil]

Brings back memories. The IBM704 was the first computer I wrote a program for in Fortran II.

[jakec]

I remember watching this films like this in summer school on film projector in the late '80s. The building was built in the 1930's, had no air conditioning and when it was too hot to be upstairs we'd be brought down into the basement and shown films like this. They knocked that school down a couple of years later. In that school's life it saw the birth of computers and the internet. Seeing films like this reminds me of the musky smell of a cool basement.

[robharding]

I was born in 57, and this technology is amazing for the time, I may be a few years older now, and things have moved on at an alarming rate, So I say, good luck to the future generations of space explorers. I will not be here.But I wish you luck all the same, For without exploration, we are dead.


be here,

[TurpInTexas]

The optimism of scientists in those days was so refreshing, I also found it amusing to see how their predictions for the future played out so far. Thanks for posting the video. It was certainly a nice trip down memory lane.

[RottnRobbie]

Primarily feeding the algorithm, but also... Thank you.
I'm basically a child of the space age, having been born the same year that Sputnik 1 launched. I was only 3 years old when this movie was released, but I grew up obsessed with the manned missions pretty much from the age of 6 (so 1963) on up. So wonderful to see some of the early history that was happening before I was aware of it.

[diracflux]

Very interesting to see the electronic components being assembled for the early satellites.

[frankowalker]

We have a lot to thank those engineers for. Very interesting film, Thank you.

[Hal]

I'm glad that Soviet achievements were duly acknowledged in this film, despite the cold-war mentality of the era.

[dalecomer]

"Produced in Association with WGBH Cambridge, Mass." The music for the film was composed by a very notable local musician and composer in the Boston area. Check out the acknowledgements and participants in the production. It"s almost like an episode of _Nova_ before there was _Nova_ .

[qzorn]

this so amazing how much was accomplished with basic technology... waste no computer logic and work with devices like the slide rule... even today this film is a great learning aid..😀

[daveridgeway]

What an outstanding video! I am 64 years old and I can appreciate vintage educational films such as this. They are not at all obsolete! Keep in mind, the new technology had to come from somewhere. Please reply. Dave...

[diode]

I loved 23:43 where the observers ducked down during the rocket launch

[eddiejones.redvees]

The control station looks very analog back then

[ldchappell]

Those early failures in the American space program proved that we weren't ready. Many people were upset about the Soviets beating us in space and the _Sputnik_ satellite made Americans paranoid about Soviet domination in space and other sciences.

[favesongslist]

WOW what an awesome video TY so much for up loading.
This is a great introduction to 'Why Space'

[utah]

I was 7 when Sputnik launched, old enough to remember it well. I recall my elders expressing concern that the Russians beat us to space. The race was on!

[zuutlmna]

This is one of the big advantages of many community ("junior") colleges. The JC I attended owned an IBM 1130 mainframe for engineering, science and math, and a System 3 for more generalized work. Not only were students allowed direct hands-on access of those computers, it was required. Meanwhile, the state college allowed no such student use of their computers. Yet the cost of transferable lower division units at the junior college was quite less, compared to that of the state college. The ONLY thing that I thought was superior at the state college, was the dorm food. For quality lower division, in my opinion, JC is where to be!! Or at least it was back-in-the-day when I attended.

[nonconsensualopinion]

Where would films like this typically have been shown? Movie theaters as pre-shows? Television as a special? I'm trying to get a sense of what the general public's exposure would have been to content like this. Thanks!

[HAPPY-kvfs]

17:00 So the earth is pear shaped. Cool.