Please note: In order to keep Hive up to date and provide users with the best features, we are no longer able to fully support Internet Explorer. The site is still available to you, however some sections of the site may appear broken. We would encourage you to move to a more modern browser like Firefox, Edge or Chrome in order to experience the site fully.

Supporting your high street Find out how »
Digital Apollo : Human and Machine in Spaceflight, Paperback / softback Book

Digital Apollo : Human and Machine in Spaceflight Paperback / softback

Part of the Digital Apollo series

Paperback / softback

Only a few left - usually despatched within 24 hours

Description

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

Information

Save 19%

£32.00

£25.85

Only a few left - usually despatched within 24 hours
Add to Basket
Sign in to add to wishlist
 
Free Home Delivery

on all orders

 
Pick up orders

from local bookshops

Information