The Computer Hack That Saved Apollo 14
Scott Manley・2 minutes read
Scott Manley recounts the high-stakes tech support crisis faced during Apollo 14 in 1971 when Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell discovered a critical issue with the abort switch on their lunar module, Antares. Mission Control enlisted an expert named Don to resolve the problem by modifying data in the computer's memory, allowing the astronauts to disable the abort flag and ensure a successful landing.
Insights
- Astronauts Shepard and Mitchell faced a critical issue with the abort switch on the lunar module during Apollo 14's descent, requiring manual intervention to prevent mission failure.
- The successful landing of Apollo 14 was secured through a combination of manual commands input by the crew and a clever procedure devised by the team, showcasing the importance of quick thinking and expertise in resolving high-stakes crises during space missions.
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Recent questions
How did the Apollo 14 astronauts resolve the tech support crisis?
By modifying data in the computer's memory.
What was the astronauts' role in resolving the Apollo 14 crisis?
Manually inputting commands on the display keyboard.
How did the Apollo 14 team trick the computer during descent?
By devising a complex procedure.
What actions did the Apollo 14 crew take to secure the mission?
Manually throttling the engine and disabling the abort flag.
What backup systems were available to the Apollo 14 crew?
The secondary abort computer onboard the lunar module.
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Summary
00:00
"Apollo 14 Tech Support Crisis Resolved"
- Scott Manley, an Internet space explorer with a background in computer software development, recounts the high-stakes tech support crisis faced during Apollo 14 in 1971.
- Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell discovered a critical issue with the abort switch on their lunar module, Antares, potentially jeopardizing the mission during descent.
- Mission Control enlisted Don, an expert on the Apollo guidance computer, to resolve the problem, which involved modifying data in the computer's erasable memory to prevent the abort signal from triggering.
- The astronauts had to manually input a sequence of commands on the display keyboard to disable the abort flag, ensuring the descent routine wouldn't be interrupted.
- To further secure the mission, a complex procedure was devised to trick the computer into thinking it was already running the abort routine, allowing the descent to proceed smoothly.
- During the descent, the crew had to manually throttle the engine to maximum, set the zoom flag, disable the let abort flag, and switch the major mode back to ensure a successful landing.
- In case of an abort, the crew could reset the let abort flag or rely on the secondary abort computer onboard the lunar module, ultimately leading to the successful landing of Apollo 14, thanks to the quick thinking and expertise of the team involved.
