Description

Eldon C. Hall poses with Apollo flight computer in a laboratory. Original caption: "Apollo Flight Computer, DKSY Eldon C. Hall, head of the team of engineers at the M.I.T. Instrumentation Laboratory which designed the computer portion of the Apollo guidance system, is shown with a flight computer and the display-and-keyboard unit -- called the DSKY -- which serves as the interface between the astronaut user and the machine. The computer employs integrated circuitry to achieve density with respect to size. The computer weighs 70 pounds, occupies a one cubic foot volume and draws 70 watts of power. Astronauts enter numerical data -- such as program commands, nouns and verbs -- into the computer by depressing appropriate number keys and command keys on the keyboard. The computer displays appear in the registers above the keyboard. When the computer needs the attention of the astronaut user, its displays flash periodically." Original credit line: MIT Photo Service.