George Morrow died Wed May 7th 2003

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Sun May 11 14:20:00 2003

On Sun, 11 May 2003, Bill McDermith wrote:
> > People went to the moon on simple
> > technology built using sliderules.
> Hmmm. In the case of the "went to the moon" at least all the data I
> could find in ten minutes
> on the internet show this false (I knew this, but wanted data -- always
> best to do a quick
> google before you say something in _this_ forum...) -- the spacecraft
> had computers (these
> are still occasional converstions on this list about the apollo
> compters) and the ground control
> system was one of the largest operating computer systems at the time...
> From a nasa site:
> http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/Ch8-3.html
> and plenty more from the same location....

I was working at NASA at the time (GSFC bldg 26, National Space Sciences
Data Center). We were NOT part of the moon mission, although we
occasionally shared 360-9x access with them. FORTRAN. We used punch
cards. a LOT. And we used a LOT of tapes. We used a 360-30 for I/O to a
7094. And we used selectric terminals with a time-sharing service for
APL. We used slide rules a bit. But we had a calculator! It had a 5?
inch CRT, and was on a typewriter cart, to let a lot of people share it.

In another job (environmental systems analysis) in early 1972, before HP
and TI were out, I used a 4 function "pocket" (BIG pocket!) calculator.
I was listed in contract bids as "head of computer systems", because the
calculator was kept in my desk drawer and because I did some miscellaneous
FORTRAN programming.

> BTW: Is a slide rule considered a "Classic Computer"? Is there still a
> forum around about these?

What IS the definition being applied? What grounds are being used to
exclude an abacus? I would guess that there are many that are still in
use for HUNDREDS of years.

BTW: punch cards? I have heard (unsubstantiated) that there are some
ancient Jacquard punch card looms still in active use.
Received on Sun May 11 2003 - 14:20:00 BST

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