Counting Down to Apollo

One American's account of watching humanity reach the Moon

Tag: guidance computer

Program Alarm 1202
Apollo 11 July 20, 1969

Program Alarm 1202

Partway through the powered descent, a guidance computer alarm called 1202 appeared. The whole world held its breath. A 24-year-old named Jack Garman said "go."
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Technology September 20, 1964

How Do You Navigate to the Moon?

I've been trying to understand how you actually navigate a spacecraft from Earth to the Moon. It's not like driving — there are no roads, no landmarks, and everything is moving.
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