Is it true that the computers used on the Apollo missions to moon had less computing power than a Palm Treo?

Answer 1

Absolutely. This was, after all, the late 1960's, some 20 YEARS before the first IBM XT was produced, which in itself was a four function calculator compared tp the Palm's.

They were based around 8-bit processors with 64kB of programme memory. No hard drives, they were not developed yet. Each time a new program was required, it was loaded from a tape cassette.

Code was written in assembler, the basic machine code of the microprocessor. Often it was optimised extensively to fit into the limited memory space.

Oh for the old days ........

Answer 2

Yes, it is true.

But while this fact might be an unbelievable one, we have to think that there's really no need to use a powerful computer to do simple things.

If what they need, for instance, is just a 4 MHz CPU to do realtime calculations, then they don't need to use a 4 GHz Athlon64 X2 CPU ;)

I am not an engineer for NASA or something, but I belive that nowadays it is simply easier and cheaper to use off-the-shelf super-powerful desktop computers, but that was not the case at the time of the Apollo mission.

Answer 3

Yes it is true. Amazing what can be done without a powerful computer isn't it? The first Antiballistic Missile sites had less computing power than my plain ole LG cell phone too, but were extremely sophisticated...

Answer 4

the Apollo command module had a bus storage capacity of 64k and a Zilog Z80 processor, remember there was no mass storage system small enough available

Answer 5

Probably; at one time the entire NORAD system had less computing power than a COmmodor 64 system.

Answer 6

It's true...the 1960's were basically the prehistoric era for computing. Slide rules were the hot item back then.

Answer 7

Yes. Far less.