# Apollo Guidance Computer

> computer

**Wikidata**: [Q138875](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138875)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apollo-guidance-computer

## Summary
The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) was a specialized computer used in NASA's Apollo missions to guide the Command and Service Module (CSM) during lunar missions. It performed critical navigation, propulsion, and landing calculations, interfacing with the DSKY (Display and Keyboard) console for astronaut input. The AGC was built by Raytheon and programmed in assembly language, distinguishing it from general-purpose computers of its time.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Computer, equipment, and space instrument
- **Manufacturer**: Raytheon
- **Programming language**: Assembly language (1949 inception)
- **Part of**: Apollo Command and Service Module
- **Has part**: DSKY (Display and Keyboard console)
- **Wikipedia title**: Apollo Guidance Computer
- **Wikidata description**: Computer
- **Sitelink count**: 21 (Wikipedia)
- **Aliases**: AGC
- **Source code repository**: [GitHub: Apollo-11](https://github.com/chrislgarry/Apollo-11)

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Apollo Guidance Computer used for?
A: The AGC was used to compute navigation, propulsion, and landing trajectories for the Apollo Command and Service Module. It processed data from sensors and astronaut inputs via the DSKY console.

### Q: Who manufactured the Apollo Guidance Computer?
A: The AGC was built by Raytheon, a major aerospace contractor.

### Q: What programming language was the AGC programmed in?
A: The AGC was programmed in assembly language, which allowed for direct hardware control and efficiency in its limited memory.

### Q: How did astronauts interact with the AGC?
A: Astronauts interacted with the AGC through the DSKY (Display and Keyboard) console, which provided input and displayed critical mission data.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for the AGC?
A: The source code is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/chrislgarry/Apollo-11), maintained by enthusiasts and researchers.

## Why It Matters
The Apollo Guidance Computer was a pivotal innovation in spaceflight, enabling precise lunar landings and real-time trajectory adjustments. Unlike general-purpose computers of the era, the AGC was optimized for reliability and performance in the harsh conditions of space. Its assembly language programming and modular design allowed engineers to fit advanced capabilities into a compact, radiation-hardened package. The AGC's success laid the groundwork for modern spacecraft computers and demonstrated the feasibility of complex onboard calculations during deep-space missions. Its legacy continues to inspire advancements in aerospace computing and human space exploration.

## Notable For
- **Specialized design**: Optimized for real-time navigation and control in space
- **Assembly language programming**: Enabled direct hardware control for efficiency
- **Radiation-hardened**: Designed to withstand space radiation
- **DSKY interface**: Pioneered astronaut-computer interaction in spacecraft
- **Lunar landing precision**: Achieved pinpoint accuracy for Apollo moon landings

## Body
### Overview
The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) was a critical component of NASA's Apollo missions, responsible for navigation, propulsion, and landing calculations. Developed by Raytheon, it was a specialized computer distinct from general-purpose machines of its time.

### Technical Specifications
- **Programming language**: Assembly language, allowing direct hardware control
- **Manufacturer**: Raytheon
- **Part of**: Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM)
- **Interface**: DSKY (Display and Keyboard) console for astronaut input

### Historical Context
- **Inception of assembly language**: 1949 (used in AGC programming)
- **First use**: Apollo 8 (1968)
- **Final use**: Apollo 17 (1972)

### Legacy
- **Source code availability**: Open-source on GitHub for research and education
- **Influence**: Inspired modern spacecraft computer design
- **Cultural impact**: Featured in films and documentaries about space exploration

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Apollo Guidance Computer",
  "description": "A specialized computer used in NASA's Apollo missions for navigation, propulsion, and landing calculations.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q175494", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer"],
  "additionalType": ["Computer", "SpaceInstrument"]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/34c3-9064-the_ultimate_apollo_guidance_computer_talk)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Quora