Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight [Hardcover]

David A. Mindell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262134977 | ISBN-13: 978-0262134972 | Publication Date: May 31, 2008

How human pilots and automated systems worked together to achieve the ultimate in flight--the lunar landings of NASA's Apollo program.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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. In each of the six Apollo landings, the astronaut in command seized control from the computer and landed with his hand on the stick. Mindell recounts the story of astronauts' desire to control their spacecraft in parallel with the history of the Apollo Guidance Computer. From the early days of aviation through the birth of spaceflight, test pilots and astronauts sought to be more than "spam in a can" despite the automatic controls, digital computers, and software developed by engineers. 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.David A. Mindell is Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing, Professor of Engineering Systems, and Director of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT. He is the author of Between Human and Machine: Feedback, Control, and Computing before Cybernetics and War, Technology, and Experience aboard the USS Monitor.

" Digital Apollo is an excellent and unique historical account of the lengthy, and often pitched struggle of designers, engineers, and pilots to successfully integrate man and complex computer systems for the Apollo lunar landings. It brings back fond memories." -- Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D.;Captain, USN(retired) Lunar Module Pilot, Apollo 14

(Edgar Mitchell )

"Mindell's well-written book deals with a terribly important and often overlooked aspect of space age technology. Commentators often present space exploration in the form of a two-sided debate, where advocates of robotics confront advocates of human flight. As Mindell adroitly demonstrates, the engineers who designed the spacecraft that actually flew to the Moon created by necessity a third position, fashioning a practical solution that stood in between the astronaut as automaton and the astronaut as a pilot fully in control. This is a 'must read' book for anyone seriously interested in understanding how space flight really works." -- Howard E. McCurdy, author of Faster, Better, Cheaper

(Howard E. McCurdy )

"David Mindell's very important and accessible book precisely dissects Apollo history, proving Apollo a harbinger of our current digital era." -- Charles Simonyi, President and CEO, Intentional Software, and Participant, Soyuz TMA-10 Mission to the International Space Station, April 2007

(Charles Simonyi )

" Digital Apollo takes the reader on a wild ride following the impact of the increasingly complex world of data processing, control, and display on space flight. The book traces the evolution of man's role aboard high speed aircraft, the hybrid X-15, and ultimately space flight, and the lunar landing. This book is fascinating history and an important resource for future space explorers." -- Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Former Deputy Administrator, NASA

(Bob Seamans )

"[A] wealth of research that even the most informed space fans can enjoy. Mindell avoids the temptation to glorify the space program, instead dealing with the nitty gritty logistics involved in getting a man to the moon. Digital Apollo succeeds in providing an inside track to one of the most difficult technological challenges of the 20th century." -- coolhunting.com

" Digital Apollo succeeds in providing an inside track to one of the most difficult technological challenges of the 20th century." -- James Thorne, Cool Hunting

"David Mindell's very important and accessible book precisely dissects Apollo history, proving Apollo a harbinger of our current digital era." Charles Simonyi , President and CEO, Intentional Software, and participant, Soyuz TMA-10 Mission to the International Space Station, April 2007

" Digital Apollo is an excellent and unique historical account of the lengthy and often pitched struggle of designers, engineers, and pilots to successfully integrate man and complex computer systems for the Apollo lunar landings. It brings back fond memories." Edgar Mitchell , Sc.D.; Captain, USN (retired) Lunar Module Pilot, Apollo 14

" Digital Apollo takes the reader on a wild ride following the impact of the increasingly complex world of data processing, control, and display on space flight. The book traces the evolution of man"s role aboard high speed aircraft, the hybrid X-15, and ultimately space flight and the lunar landing. This book is fascinating history and an important resource for future space explorers." Robert C. Seamans, Jr. , Former Deputy Administrator, NASA

About the Author

"Mindell joyfully plumbs the deep history of Apollo's decade-long clash between the MIT eggheads who built the computers and the thrill-jockey military test pilots who used them." IEEE Spectrum

"Mindell's well-written book deals with a terribly important and often overlooked aspect of space age technology. Commentators often present space exploration in the form of a two-sided debate, where advocates of robotics confront advocates of human flight. As Mindell adroitly demonstrates, the engineers who designed the spacecraft that actually flew to the moon created by necessity a third position, fashioning a practical solution that stood in between the astronaut as automaton and the astronaut as a pilot fully in control. This is a 'must read' book for anyone seriously interested in understanding how space flight really works." Howard E. McCurdy , author of Faster, Better, Cheaper

Product Details

• Hardcover: 456 pages
• Publisher: MIT Press (May 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262134977
• ISBN-13: 978-0262134972
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Soul of a new machine" for Apollo, September 9, 2008

By 

Cicero "Dude" (Dawson Creek, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight (Hardcover)

Thankfully the publisher used silky cream paper to print this book. Both your hands and your brain are pampered. Clear line illustration inside with a fantastic cover graphic, this book rewards the touch of your hand by taking you on a magic carpet ride through the inner workings of developing the guidance and navigation systems for the moon shot. It is the "Soul of the New Machine" for the Apollo program.

It's a fascinating account of how the guidance computer and the human astronaut (and flight controllers) struggled to rely on each other for the landing on the moon. The love-hate emotions of the computer-astronaut interface are felt throughout the book. Although there is no shortage of technical detail, it all seems essential to the narrative. Initially, it seems as if the book is losing focus, but soon the connections become clear: the book reads like a detective novel.

If you have read two or more books on the space program, this should be your next purchase. Once you have read one Apollo book, there is a lot of repetition - not here. It provides many details the others lack.

A secondary audience for this book is anyone interested in IT project management. This book provides a case study on complex, mission-critical project management. Much to be learned. This should be required ready for engineering majors.

At under $20, this book will set off fireworks in the pleasure centers neurons.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Computers in Space, May 5, 2008

By 

Neil S. Rieck "Neil Rieck" (Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight (Hardcover)

While this book dwells more on computers than astronauts, it contains details from the actual moon landings that I've never seen published elsewhere. Despite contrary opinions by the astonauts, this book has convinced me that a 100% all-human landing (without computers) was not technically possible. If you liked "Journey to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Guidance Computer" then you'll like this.

p.s. This book describes the operation of a zero-weight low-tech technology known as the LPD (landing point designator) which is comprised of colored markings on the commander's window. One of the AGC display lines tells the commander which lines to look through.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story of man and machine and the best they can do together, December 1, 2008

By 

Rich Reinert "NEO Fan 45" (Berthoud, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight (Hardcover)

Just to be clear, I have a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, obtained in the year 1968, when astronauts first reached the moon. I have made a career in aerospace ever since. With this background I found the book to be fascinating and read it from cover to cover in about 2 days. physically the book is of extremely high quality and very well produced. A pleasure to hold. The book is very well written, and the technical discussions are comprehensive, accurate and enlightening. Despite a career long informal study of the Apollo Program, I learned a lot. (such as what really happened during the Apollo 11 descent and landing). Figures and tables are well chosen and well presented thoughout. The descriptions of the people involved are interesting and insightful. They ring true. I'd recommend this to anyone with a backgound in computers interested in Apollo, and anyone with a backgound in space systems interested in computers.