Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight

Written by David A. Mindell

Narrated by Kyle Tait

As Apollo 11's Lunar Module descended toward the moon under automatic control, a program alarm in the guidance computer's software nearly caused a mission abort. Neil Armstrong responded by switching off the automatic mode and taking direct control. He stopped monitoring the computer and began flying the spacecraft, relying on skill to land it and earning praise for a triumph of human over machine. In Digital Apollo, engineer-historian David Mindell takes this famous moment as a starting point for an exploration of the relationship between humans and computers in the Apollo program.

Digital Apollo examines the design and execution of each of the six Apollo moon landings, drawing on transcripts and data telemetry from the flights, astronaut interviews, and NASA's extensive archives. Mindell's exploration of how human pilots and automated systems worked together to achieve the ultimate in flight-a lunar landing-traces and reframes the debate over the future of humans and automation in space. The results have implications for any venture in which human roles seem threatened by automated systems, whether it is the work at our desktops or the future of exploration.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781977348593

Reviews for Digital Apollo

[Mike · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The narrator has a really offputting way of adding an additional breath at the end of every sentence. Once I became aware of it, I couldn't listen to the book anymore. It's a pity because I was really keen to hear the content.

[jespercfs2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As mere PC user with very little to no knowledge of the 'inner secrets' and history of data processing, this book was a 'beast' to read.

Even if fascinating, more than much of the content was way over my head, like 'hardwired software' and 'read-only rope memory'.

I also found the 'man vs machine' issue fascinating from todays point of view. Maybe a bit long-haired though.

My guess is that you have to have more than average computer knowledge and interest in the issue to get the full advantage of the book.

In the end I'm sure that those who has those qualifications will have a good and interesting time reading this book.

[seabear_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was incredible! The chapters on the approach, descent, and landing of the Eagle on the moon (Apollo 11) comprise a gripping tale of the way in which machines and people can cooperate to perform extraordinary things, and, incidentally, demonstrates how the pernicious evil of obscurantism has infected modern writing about technology, by way of actually explaining the computer systems and the engineering challenges that the flight presented. I would give my left arm for books like this to be written about the innumerable other places in modern life where machines are critically important (e.g. the petroleum industry).

[wpnoel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent book on the development and integration of the flight computer to the Apollo Command Module and the Lunar Module. How it was decided on what roll the astronauts would have on actually flying the Apollo ships.

[celephicus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not much to add to ALinNY458's review, but if you _do_ find the book light on technical detail, then you should read "Journey To The Moon: The History of The Apollo Guidance Computer" by Eldon C. Hall, which will give you sufficient grounding to tackle the original NASA documents. The book by Woods "How Apollo Flew To The Moon" skims lightly but informatively over all the other hardware involved in the flights.

[alinny458 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent book about a critical element of the moon landing program, the development and integration of computer systems needed to get the command and lunar module to the moon and return safely. Technically knowledgeable readers (software developers) might find the book a bit light on technical content. But for anyone with an interest in the history of computing this book is a real gem.