AdamSmith Posted October 13, 2015 Posted October 13, 2015 Neat article on Margaret Hamilton, one of the lead programmers of the Apollo flight computers. Her Code Got Humans on the Moon—And Invented Software Itself http://www.wired.com/2015/10/margaret-hamilton-nasa-apollo/ MsAnn and JKane 2 Quote
Members MsAnn Posted October 13, 2015 Members Posted October 13, 2015 Neat article on Margaret Hamilton, one of the lead programmers of the Apollo flight computers. Her Code Got Humans on the Moon—And Invented Software Itself http://www.wired.com/2015/10/margaret-hamilton-nasa-apollo/ "Hamilton remembers. Once the code was solid, it would be shipped off to a nearby Raytheon facility where a group of women, expert seamstresses known to the Apollo program as the “Little Old Ladies,” threaded copper wires through magnetic rings (a wire going through a core was a 1; a wire going around the core was a 0). Forget about RAM or disk drives; on Apollo, memory was literally hardwired and very nearly indestructible." and programing at MIT at 24 years old. Impressive. JKane and AdamSmith 2 Quote
AdamSmith Posted October 13, 2015 Author Posted October 13, 2015 Have always loved the fact of several great women being key to software and computer programming history. Ada Lovelace working with Babbage (was it?). Then Admiral Grace Hopper. Had forgotten about Hamilton until this piece. Quote
Members RA1 Posted October 14, 2015 Members Posted October 14, 2015 Why does this remind me of Betsy Ross? Actually I think that story has been debunked. MS. Hamilton seems a real heroine. Best regards, RA1 AdamSmith 1 Quote
AdamSmith Posted October 14, 2015 Author Posted October 14, 2015 Here is one of those expert seamstresses hand-wiring the memory modules... This source says it was called "LOL memory", for Little Old Lady: http://factually.gizmodo.com/nasas-most-ambitious-spacecraft-ever-is-about-as-smart-1667270807 Reminds that another place where the Apollo program employed many expert seamstresses was sewing the astronauts' space suits: Bra Makers' Moon-Suit History to Star in Warner Bros. Movie International Latex Corporation (ILC) seamstresses are seen in 1967 sewing parts for the Apollo spacesuits worn on the moon. From the studio that put Sandra Bullock in a spacesuit may now come a movie about the real-life seamstresses who traded sewing brassieres for stitching Neil Armstrong's lunar wardrobe. Warner Bros. Pictures, which this fall will release Alfonso Cuarón's Bullock-and-George-Clooney-as-astronauts sci-fi film "Gravity," has hired screenwriter Richard Cordiner to adapt the non-fiction book, "Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo" for the big screen, the Hollywood news website Deadline reports. "Spacesuit," by Nicholas de Monchaux, tells the history of the Apollo moonwalkers' outerwear and the company that created it: ILC, or International Latex Corporation — best known by its consumer brand of "Playtex." De Monchaux, an assistant professor of architecture and urban design at the University of California, Berkeley, researched the book while working for a year as a fellow at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [NASA's New 'Buzz Lightyear' Spacesuit (Photos)] "Each one of [the spacesuits] was completely handmade — this [was] an utterly couture garment," de Monchaux told National Public Radio at the time his book was released. "Twenty-one layers of all different kinds of material hand sewn by women who came off the bra and girdle assembly lines." http://www.space.com/21297-bra-makers-moon-spacesuit-movie.html Quote
AdamSmith Posted October 14, 2015 Author Posted October 14, 2015 Bra makers' moon-suit history to be told in Warner Bros. movie International Latex Corporation (ILC) seamstresses sewing parts in 1967 for the Apollo spacesuits worn on the moon. (MIT Press) May 24, 2013 — From the studio that put Sandra Bullock into a spacesuit may now come a movie about the real-life seamstresses who traded sewing brassieres for stitching Neil Armstrong's lunar wardrobe.Warner Bros. Pictures, which this fall will release Alfonso Cuarón's Bullock-and-George-Clooney-as-astronauts sci-fi film "Gravity," has hired screenwriter Richard Cordiner to adapt the non-fiction book, "Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo" for the big screen, the Hollywood news website Deadline reports."Spacesuit," by Nicholas de Monchaux, tells the history of the Apollo moonwalkers' outerwear and the company that created it: ILC, or International Latex Corporation — best known by its consumer brand of "Playtex." De Monchaux, an assistant professor of architecture and urban design at the University of California, Berkeley, researched the book while working for a year as a fellow at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The cover art for "Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo" by Nicholas de Monchaux; the book will adapted for a Warner Bros. movie. (MIT) "Each one of [the spacesuits] was completely handmade – this [was] an utterly couture garment," de Monchaux told National Public Radio at the time his book was released. "Twenty-one layers of all different kinds of material hand sewn by women who came off the bra and girdle assembly lines.""When you look at how Playtex put these suits together, it was this really kind of fabulous combination of, on the one hand some engineering expertise, but on the other hand, an enormous amount of informal knowledge," remarked de Monchaux.If the story of a group of seamstresses and their unlikely supervisors — a TV repairman-turned-spacesuit engineer and a former sewing machine salesman-turned-executive — seems devoid of the type of drama needed for a movie, "Spacesuit" recalls their triumph over the military-industrial complex to produce what in July 1969 became the most iconic outfit worn in the history of mankind."One of the most remarkable stories is when Playtex was indeed successfully edged out of the [spacesuit selection] process at one point in 1965 and then battled its way back into a six week competition between three companies that would produce the final suit that would walk on the moon," de Monchaux told NPR's "Science Friday" in 2011. An ILC seamstress stitches an Apollo A7L spacesuit. (MIT Press) The screenplay for "Spacesuits" is Cordiner's first script in a two-film deal with Warner Bros. A brand strategist for a San Francisco advertising agency, Cordiner's spec script for a documentary about the making of the classic Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws" drew the studio's attention."Still can't believe I'll help tell this incredible story... such an honor," Cordiner wrote on Twitter on Wednesday (May 22), referring to "Spacesuits."If the project reaches theaters, it will not be the first time that Warner Bros. has borrowed from space history for a movie. The studio distributed the 1983 film adaptation of Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" about the original Mercury astronauts and backed the 2000 stateside release of "The Dish" about Australia's contribution to the Apollo 11 moon landing.Warner Bros. and Clint Eastwood acquired the film rights to astronaut Neil Armstrong's authorized biography, "First Man," by historian James Hansen in 2003, but then let the option expire four years later. http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-052413a.html Quote
Members RA1 Posted October 14, 2015 Members Posted October 14, 2015 Even today there is no one size fits all when it comes to "G" suits or pressure suits. They have to fit the body "just right" in order to work properly. Putting on a few pounds gives a whole new definition to "outgrowing" your job. Best regards, RA1 AdamSmith 1 Quote
AdamSmith Posted October 14, 2015 Author Posted October 14, 2015 I read an interview with one (or more) of these spacesuit seamstresses a few years ago. They were acutely aware of the life-or-death nature of their work, and made the point that they had never in their life paid so much attention to making every single individual stitch perfect. Like so much else in Apollo, it was really impressive. RA1 and JKane 2 Quote
AdamSmith Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 ...and for only $2,195 you too can own a replica NASA Apollo A7L Moon Suit! Apollo A7L 'Moon Suit' Replica Available now! Replica Deluxe Apollo spacesuit. Perfect for display or to wear. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks in production for your specifications. Ships worldwide. Includes spacesuit, backpack, chest pack, boots, gloves, snoopy cap and helmet with see through gold reflective visor just like the actual Apollo helmets The visor is fully retractable. A clear visor can be fitted in place of the gold visor. Our helmet is a realistic and detailed Apollo helmet and NOT a generic helmet that you will see for sale elsewhere on other deluxe suit offerings Our spacesuit is detailed with with suit pockets (see photos) for a realistic presentation Space suit fittings are made of anodized aluminum Aluminum neck ring available as an upgrade We are the manufacturer of these suits and therefore can customize them to your specifications for an additional fee Available in all sizes. Simply send us your height and we will fabricate the suit to fit. Suits are custom made so please allow 4 weeks for shipment after purchase Compare our detailed suits to other suits suits see the difference in detail as well as our direct to you low, low price We can place any mission patch on the suit from Apollo 11 through Apollo 17 Features: Realistic LEVA helmet with see through gold reflective visor Detailed spacesuit pockets Hard cast suit fittings with open and close tabs on suit fittings Detailed space suit gloves and boots This suit makes a fantastic display that can be worn as well***THIS IS A SPECIAL ORDER AND CANNOT BE CANCELLED, ONCE SUIT PRODUCTION BEGUN*** http://www.thespacestore.com/space-suits/apollo-a7l-moon-suit-replica RA1 1 Quote
Members RA1 Posted October 15, 2015 Members Posted October 15, 2015 All special orders ARE special orders. I do not plan on going to Mars but, if I were, these folks would be on my check list of things to do. Best regards, RA1 AdamSmith 1 Quote
