---
created_at: '2014-04-03T13:15:03.000Z'
title: NASA Open Sources Apollo 11 Code (2009)
url: http://apcmag.com/apollo-11-code-goes-open-source.htm
author: jaboutboul
points: 145
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created_at_i: 1396530903
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- story
- author_jaboutboul
- story_7522539
objectID: '7522539'

---
 

It’s been famously remarked that the on-board systems in Apollo 11 had
less computing power than a modern pocket calculator.

Now we can see that the code which ran those systems was probably less
complicated than the code behind the Windows Calculator.

As part of its celebration of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and
man’s first steps on the moon the spaceheads at Google have published
the [original
code](http://googlecode.blogspot.com/2009/07/apollo-11-missions-40th-anniversary-one.html)
from the [Apollo Guidance
Computer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer) or AGC.

The code was transcribed from scanned images of printouts for the AGC in
both the Command Module (codenamed Comanche054) which reached moon orbit
and was the return vehicle; and the Lunar Module (Luminary099) which
took astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon.

While the code itself is primarily of interest to programmers there are
some amusing snippets which show that the geek sense of humour never
changes.

Line 666 in the Lunar Module’s code has a comment identifying it as
“NUMERO MYSTERIOSO” or the number of mystery while Lines 179 and 180
have both been commented by the programmer as “TEMPORARY I HOPE HOPE
HOPE”.

If you want to load up the code and try it for yourself Google also
provides links to an open-source AGC
emulator.

![](http://media.apcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2009/07/apcnewslunar-hot_mainImage1.jpg1.jpg)

What’s a GUI? The Apollo systems were controlled through a simple ‘Dsky’
(display and keyboard) console

 

Alternatively you can take a virtual flight to the Moon with the latest
update to [Google Earth](http://earth.google.com/) which now adds lunar
images and related content to the program.

The ‘Moon in Google Earth’ feature lets you take a tour of the landing
sites with narration by Apollo astronauts; view 3D models of the landed
spacecraft; zoom into 360 degree photos to see the footprints left by
the astronauts; and watch archival TV footage of the Apollo missions.

The lunar panoramas can be explored using the same format as Google
Street View format although so far there haven’t been any privacy
complaints.
