ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2020 - 40

DSKY and the onboard computer.

DSKY: Interface
Between a Man
and Machine
DSKY was short for "display keyboard,"
and while originally intended as a
prototype, its reliability and popularity
with the pilot testers led to DSKY
earning its place in the CSM/LM's
cockpit. Capabilities were to call up
programs, routines, and displays
desired and insert (type in) missionrelated computer data, with the
astronauts monitoring progress via
numerical displays.

The front intercom in today's
apartment building has vastly superior
technology than the keyboard
and display screen that the Apollo
astronauts used to talk with the
computer that guided them to the moon
and back. As one example, MIT/IL
engineers devised a separate command
sequence for the astronaut to freeze
the computer's observational data prior
to executing a module maneuver so
the computer would ignore the new
observational data coming in.
Astronauts executed around 25
routines on 40 major programs with

Lunar Module (LM) navigation.
40

* T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F I S TAT

DSKY, using two-word combinations
- a noun and a verb. The thought was
that a 1960 user could easily latch onto
a conception-ally simple conversation
with a machine via typing noun-verb
equivalents such as fire rocket, align
platform, etc. Apollo astronauts had
a total of 93 nouns, and 28 finite
and 57 nonfinite verbs to utilize for
the conversation.
DSKY was designed by MIT/IL's
Ramon Alonso, using a high-density
(for the day) rope memory system
that preserved mission data in a
power-down mode. Rope memory was
literally copper wire woven together
by hand by some extremely patient
Raytheon contractors.

A Novice's Description
of Inertial Guidance
Systems
I have a master's in economics, worked
in credit markets and muddled through
a college class called "Physics for the
Curious." As writing practical concepts
doesn't come easy, I hereby depart my
comfort zone:
Inertial measurement works by
measuring the rate of acceleration
change upon each of three dimensions:
equivalent to an aircraft's pitch (nose
up or down), roll (like a barrel roll) or

Spacecraft configurations.

Photos courtesy of Draper.

AVIATION HISTORY
ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2020
