Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight
Language: English
Published by MIT Press, 2008
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: No Alternative Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.No Alternative Books
AbeBooks seller since June 15, 2024
Condition: Used - Fine
US$ 40.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
A Fine hardcover in a Fine dust jacket. The text is clean and unmarked, with a tight binding and firm hinges. 2 pages have a very small, minor ding on their bottom edges. Jacket has light wear to corners and top of spine. Some rubbing along the fore edges of the jacket.
Seller Inventory # ABE-1769188024370
- Title
- Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight
- Author
- Mindell, David A.
- Publisher
- MIT Press
- Publication year
- 2008
- Condition
- Fine
- Dust jacket
- Fine
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0262134977
- ISBN 13
- 9780262134972
- Item weight
- 907 grams
- Dimensions
- 3.18 centimeters width by 18.42 centimeters height by 22.86 centimeters depth
How human pilots and automated systems worked together to achieve the ultimate in flightthe lunar landings of NASA's Apollo program.
As Apollo 11's Lunar Module descended toward the moon under automatic control, a program alarm in the guidance computer's software nearly caused a mission abort. Neil Armstrong responded by switching off the automatic mode and taking direct control. He stopped monitoring the computer and began flying the spacecraft, relying on skill to land it and earning praise for a triumph of human over machine. In Digital Apollo, engineer-historian David Mindell takes this famous moment as a starting point for an exploration of the relationship between humans and computers in the Apollo program. In each of the six Apollo landings, the astronaut in command seized control from the computer and landed with his hand on the stick. Mindell recounts the story of astronauts' desire to control their spacecraft in parallel with the history of the Apollo Guidance Computer. From the early days of aviation through the birth of spaceflight, test pilots and astronauts sought to be more than spam in a can despite the automatic controls, digital computers, and software developed by engineers.
Digital Apollo examines the design and execution of each of the six Apollo moon landings, drawing on transcripts and data telemetry from the flights, astronaut interviews, and NASA's extensive archives. Mindell's exploration of how human pilots and automated systems worked together to achieve the ultimate in flighta lunar landingtraces and reframes the debate over the future of humans and automation in space. The results have implications for any venture in which human roles seem threatened by automated systems, whether it is the work at our desktops or the future of exploration.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
David A. Mindell is Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing, Professor of Engineering Systems, and Director of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT. He is the author of Between Human and Machine: Feedback, Control, and Computing before Cybernetics and War, Technology, and Experience aboard the USS Monitor.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
No Alternative Books
Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since June 15, 2024
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"There is no alternative". From Greenfield, MA. Ex-academic selling mostly academic, collectible and antiquarian books, or whatever interests me. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions - either on here or via email: lukehuszar@gmail.com. I'm active on other selling platforms under the same name, where you can find user-submitted reviews of my business and books, along with more photos of the books listed here.
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No Alternative Books
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No Alternative books: 69 Phillips St, Greenfield MA 01301; 978-201-9901; lukehuszar@gmail.com. All listed items are subject to prior sale. Books may be returned up to 30 days after arrival so long as the condition of the book has not changed - contact me.
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