Comment by markshiz | Hacker News Reader

Comment by markshiz | Hacker News Reader

Yes, and the firmware for the USB-C wasn't sewn by hand into the plug (core rope memory). They did this for reliability purposes. It's amazing the craftsmanship that went into much of that rocket by people of all walks of life.

http://www.righto.com/2019/07/software-woven-into-wire-core-...

Here's another great article on the hand-welds on the F1. In only a short amount of time we've outsourced so much of these production tasks to other software/machines. But it's really amazing to contemplate and appreciate what a work of human hands Apollo was.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/f-1-moon-rocket

It's hard for me to grasp it, but I can't help but think it beautiful when I meditate on all the _people_ involved in the moon landing, each person playing a small part in a very complex symphony.

There is a scene in From Here to the Moon that takes place after the deaths of the Apollo 1 crew. Frank Borman is testifying before a congressional panel and, in talking about Ed White, he said "At the plant, Ed saw a group of men off to the side so he went over to talk to them, which never happens. It turned out, they were the men who made the tools that build the spacecraft that will take us to the moon". It wasn't just the scientists, engineers, and technicians. Everyone who had a role in the program felt a sense of responsibility and pride in what they did to take these astronauts to the moon and bring them back. It was an amazing time, considering all that was happening at the same time. I feel very fortunate to have been able to witness the whole thing as a kid.

Look up the "Moon Machines" documentary series - it's great storytelling with amazing B-roll. The GNC episode has stuff about the core rope, and the "first stage" episode had the story of the surfers who worked on the tanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zotaRLROtw "Many stones can form an arch, singly none, singly none". This is one the first songs I learned to perform, along with Somebody Will.

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