IBM computer guides NASA's Saturn rocket into space

On this day in 1964, an IBM computer was used aboard an historically significant testing flight of NASA’s Saturn rocket. The flight successfully placed a record-breaking 19-ton payload into orbit around the earth. The IBM computer, used for guidance, was an integral part of the Instrument Unit (IU) section of the Saturn, and helped ensure the test mission went as expected. Information about the mission’s performance was telemetered in real time back to Earth, from the IU. Just over five …

breaking computer earth guidance guides ibm integral nasa part space testing