This is the second major
revision of this website.
In its first incarnation, it had the following purposes:
Establish a presence on the web, and flesh out the basic
structure for an AGC website.
Provide a new user with a basic outline of the Apollo
Guidance Computer, and the major historical issues associated with it.
Post some primary documents that are relevant for more
advanced readers and participants, to use as a basis for discussion.
Serve as a baseline to bring new historical participants
up to speed on the project. Pointing them here allows us to quickly and easily explain our
research.
Continue expansion, modification, and discussion. Get a
sense for how on-line discussions are likely to go, and the level of participation from
historical actors.
The second stage of the project is now underway and this
site now reflects the following activities:
Open the site to a community of participants and
historians for initial discussion of historical issues.
Gathered participants (i.e. engineers, scientists and
astronauts) for face-to-face meetings in Cambridge. The sessions were recorded,
transcribed, and are now presented on the site. Initially these transcripts are only
open to participants, to allow annotation and commentary to be added, but will soon be
opened for general access.
A year-long series of further meetings to discuss the
software design and engineering processes, the manufacturing process and the mechanical
design process are ongoing (Fall 2001 and Spring 2002)
Arranging for several of the hardware designers to
examine the AGC hardware at the MIT museum, take it apart, and narrate the process on
video. Selections of the video will then be posted on the site. (Fall, 2001)
Gathering additional materials, images, and interviews
(ongoing).
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