Apollo Guidance Computer

Overview

The Apollo Guidance Computer book by Frank O'Brien does a great job of covering the architecture and operation of the Apollo Guidance computer (AGC). It includes in-depth insight to the decision that had to be made in order to develop a guidance computer that was both small enough and yet powerful and rigorous enough to with stand the blast-off of an Atlas rocket and the unfriendly environment of space and the moon. It's an interesting read especially the details of the considerations of how to build and program the AGC. I recommend this book for any computer science student to help them understand how the computer languages of today have evolved since the development of the AGC in 1969.

Also, check out the links below for the Virtual AGC Project.

The Apollo Guidance Computer book cover.
O'Brien, Frank. The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation (Springer Praxis Books) (p. xii). Praxis. Kindle Edition.
Click for larger image.

Links of Interest