Installing the Simulation (v2.1.2)
Apollo Enthusiast Area
OFF | allows for a totally manual flight with no interference from the computer |
ATT Hold | "attitude hold" forces the computer to keep the LM vertical while you fly it manually |
Auto | allows for a totally automated landing - the computer's intended destination can still be retargeted |
Scenarios | ||
---|---|---|
Mission | Flight 1 | Flight 2 |
Apollo 11 | Long Flight starting in P64 | Short Flight starting in P66 |
Apollo 12 | Long Flight starting in P64 | Short Flight starting in P66 |
Apollo 15 | Long Flight starting in P64 | Short Flight starting in P66 |
Apollo 17 | Long Flight starting in P64 | Short Flight starting in P66 |
LM Race | LM Race | |
Orbital | Rendezvous and Docking | CSM-LM Docked |
Supported AGC Programs | |
---|---|
Program | Description |
P00 | Idle loop |
P12 | Ascent |
P20 | Rendezvous |
P63 | Breaking phase |
P64 | Pre-Landing phase |
P66 | Terminal Phase |
P68 | Landed |
P70 | DPS Abort |
P71 | APS Abort |
keystroke examples | |
---|---|
nomenclature | actual windows key |
3 | keyboard 3 |
NPAD-3 | numeric keypad 3 |
F3 | F3 |
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 11 |
Flight: | Short Flight P66 (will work with free version) |
Key | Function | ||
---|---|---|---|
F1 | General Help caveat: some commands (like "Engine Shutdown" and "Plant Flag" to only name two) are wrong. Improved help can be viewed by clicking the HELP button just after you start the app |
||
F2 | AGC/DSKY Program Help (for whatever AGC program is running) | ||
1 | VCV-1: Look out the commander's window | ||
2 | VCV-2: See commander's window & center console | ||
3 | VCV-3: Commander's view of DSKY | ||
4 | Cockpit View 1: Left Window / FDAI Ball - DSKY | ||
5 | Cockpit View 2: Left Window / FDAI Ball - DSKY (Faded) | ||
6 | Cockpit View 3: Left Window / Totally Transparent Equipment | ||
7-8 | Spot Views 1-2 | ||
9 | Ground View (watch the LM from the surface of the Moon) | ||
0 | EVA view (start an EVA and descend the ladder) | ||
SHIFT-G | toggle the PGNS (primary guidance and navigation system) switch | ||
T | toggle the THROTTLE switch | ||
Cockpit | Spot View | EVA | |
Q | Move Down |
Zoom In | |
W | Zoom Into The Panel | Rotate Up | Walk Forward |
E | Move Up |
Zoom Out | |
A | Move Left |
Rotate Left | |
S | - Reset | ||
D | Move Right |
Rotate Right | |
X | Zoom Out From The Panel | Rotate Down | Walk Backward |
Arrows | Tilt: Up-Down-Left-Right | Tilt: Up-Down Turn: Left-Right |
With Joystick | Keyboard Only | Command |
---|---|---|
None | NPAD4 | Roll Left |
None | NPAD6 | Roll Right |
None | NPAD8 | Pitch Down |
None | NPAD2 | Pitch Up |
NPAD1 | NPAD1 | Yaw Left |
NPAD3 | NPAD3 | Yaw Right |
F8 | F8 | Translate Forward (+Z) |
F7 | F7 | Translate Backwards (-Z) |
F9 | F9 | Translate Left (-Y) |
F10 | F10 | Translate Right (+Y) |
F12 | F12 | Translate Up (+X) |
F11 | F11 | Translate Down (-X) |
With Joystick | Keyboard Only | Command |
---|---|---|
+ | + | Rate of Descent (ROD) Up (see Vista Caveat below) |
= | = | Rate of Descent (ROD) Up (see Vista Caveat below) |
R | R | Rate Scale Toggle |
SHIFT+D | SHIFT+D | Deadband Toggle |
SHIFT+R | SHIFT+R | Roll Mode Toggle |
SHIFT+P | SHIFT+P | Pitch Mode Toggle |
SHIFT+Y | SHIFT+Y | Yaw Mode Toggle |
SHIFT+A | SHIFT+A | AGS Toggle |
SHIFT+P | SHIFT+P | PGNS Toggle (Primary Guidance and Navigation System) |
H | H | X-Pointer Toggle |
T | T | Man/Aut ThrottleToggle |
DSKY Key | DSKY Nomenclature | Windows Key |
---|---|---|
VERB | V | V |
NOUN | N | N |
ENTR | E | NPAD-enter |
0-9 | 0-9 | NPAD-0 to NPAD-9 |
PRO/ceed | STAR | NPAD-star |
RSET | PERIOD | NPAD-period |
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 11 |
Flight: | Long Flight P64 (only works with registered version) |
8 | Pitch Down | |||||
4 | 5 | 6 | Roll Left | Center | Roll Right | |
1 | 2 | 3 | Yaw Left | Pitch Up | Yaw Right |
Rate Of Descent UP | key=EQUALS (which is under the plus symbol) |
Rate of Descent DOWN | key=MINUS |
Rate Of Descent UP | key=O (oh) |
Rate of Descent DOWN | key=I (eye) |
Rate Of Descent UP | key=F12 (which is just above EQUALS) |
Rate of Descent DOWN | key=F11 (which is just above MINUS) |
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 12 |
Flight: | Short Flight P66 (only works with registered version) |
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 15 |
Flight: | Short Flight P66 (only works with registered version) |
Alternate variation: Why walk to Hadley Rill when you can fly there?
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 15 |
Flight: | Short Flight P66 (only works with registered version) |
Another Variation: "How Low Are We? (compared to the mountains)" and "Lets Do an Abort"
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 2 |
Mission: | Apollo 15 |
Flight: | Short Flight P66 (only works with registered version) |
Caveat: In version 2.1.2 this section is a little flaky so you must follow theses instructions to the letter. Failure to do so will result in you hearing ascent audio but not seeing the associated video.
Startup Window: | Virtual Cockpit 1 |
Mission: | Orbital |
Flight: | CSM-LM Docked (only works with registered version) |
INSERT | HOME | PAGE UP |
DELETE | END | PAGE DOWN |
UP | ||
LEFT | DOWN | RIGHT |
X+ | Y+ | Z+ |
X- | Y- | Z- |
INSERT | BREAK | |
HOME | END | |
DELETE | PAGE UP | |
PAGE DOWN | ||
UP | ||
LEFT | DOWN | RIGHT |
X+ | Y+ |
Y+ | Y- |
X- | Z+ |
Z- | |
PrtSc | ScrLk | PAUSE |
F10 | F11 | F12 |
INSERT | HOME | PAGE UP |
DELETE | END | PAGE DOWN |
X+ | Y+ | Z+ |
X- | Y- | Z- |
Windows-Vista Caveat: there are two keyboard definition filesWith Windows-Vista you will be probably be using file "KeyboardOnly.ini" but will find that the EQUALS key is not being recognized by EagleLander3d. Just edit this file like so:
- KeyboardOnly.ini
Rate Of Descent UP key EQUALS (which is under the plus symbol) Rate of Descent DOWN key MINUS - KeyboardOnly IDE.ini
Rate Of Descent UP key O (oh) Rate of Descent DOWN key I (eye)
Rate Of Descent UP key F12 (which is just above EQUALS) Rate of Descent DOWN key F11 (which is just above MINUS)
Version | Size | Comments | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
2.1.2 | 62 MB | older stable release | |
2.1.5 | 321 MB | newer beta releases | 2009-12-28 |
2.1.5 A | 320 MB | ||
2.1.5 B | 323 MB | ||
2.1.5 C | 377 MB | ||
2.1.5 D | 381 MB | ||
2.1.5 E | 373 MB | 2010-02-16 | |
2.1.5 F | 373 MB | 2010-05-18 |
Unofficial List of Technical Changes
Motherboard | Required Slot |
---|---|
Newer | PCI-e slot (sometimes referred to as PCI Express |
Slightly Older | AGP |
Much Older | PCI |
Excerpt: The on-board Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) was about 1 cubic foot with 2K of 16-bit RAM and 36K of hard-wired core-rope memory with copper wires threaded, or not threaded, through tiny magnetic cores. The 16-bit words were generally 14 data bits (or two op-codes), 1 sign bit, and 1 parity bit. The cycle time was 11.7 micro-seconds. Programming was done by using an assembler to build an interpreter. Scaling was fixed point fractional. An assembly language ADD-instruction took about 23.4 micro-seconds. The operating system featured a multi-programmed, priority/event driven asynchronous executive packed into 2K of memory." -- Apollo 11: 25 Years Later by Fred H. Martin, Intermetrics, Inc., July 1994
Introduction
Apollo Guidance Computer | @ Wikipedia |
One Giant Leap: The Apollo Guidance Computer | @ Dr. Dobb's |
NASA History
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/Part1.html | Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience |
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap15fj | Apollo 15 |
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/Ch2-5.html | Apollo guidance computer: Hardware |
Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
Apollo Glossary | |
Apollo-11 Technical Air-to-Ground Voice Transcription | |
Apollo-11 Lunar Landing Information | includes information about "413 is in" which relates to AGS (Abort Guidance System) |
Apollo-12 EVA Voice Transcription |
Non-NASA Sources
apollotribute2.blogspot.com | A Tribute to Apollo (Part 2) Including Apollo Star Charts |
www.taoyue.com/explore/orbiter.html | Landing on the Moon - The Orbiter Space Simulator: An Appreciation |
www.clavius.org | Debunked Conspiracy Theories |
www.clavius.org/techcomp.html | Debunked Computer Technology Myths |
Note: sometimes AGC (Apollo Guidance Computer) is referred to as AFC (Apollo Flight Computer)
history.nasa.gov | |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-1.html | The need for an on-board computer |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-2.html | MIT chosen as hardware and software contractor |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-3.html | The Apollo computer systems |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-4.html | Evolution of the hardware: Old technology versus new block I and Block I designs |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-5.html | The Apollo guidance computer: Hardware |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-6.html | The Apollo guidance computer: Software |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-7.html | Using the AGC |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-8.html | The Abort Guidance System |
history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch2-9.html | Lessons Learned |
https://history.nasa.gov/afj/ | Apollo Flight Journal (entry point to individual flights) |
history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.html | Apollo Flight Journal (includes a table of program numbers like P64 + P66) |
history.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/a12.landing.html | Apollo 12 EVA to Surveyor-3 - this document claims it's less than 400 f (122 m) away from the LM |
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/surveyor3data.html | Surveyor-3 mission information |
ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/ 19790076715_1979076715.pdf |
Apollo Guidance Computer (Raytheon) April, 1963 |
ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/ 19780070361_1978070361.pdf |
Apollo Guidance and Navigation (MIT Instrumentation Lab) August 1964 |
ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/ 19740072134_1974072134.pdf |
Apollo Guidance and Navigation (MIT Instrumentation Lab) Eldon C Hall - May,1963 |
hrst.mit.edu/hrs/apollo/public/index.htm | more info from M.I.T. |
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/computers/contents.html | Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience |
www.ibiblio.org/apollo/ | Virtual AGC and AGS |
www.ibiblio.org/apollo/yaDSKY.html | Virtual DSKY |
www.ibiblio.org/apollo/links.html | Virtual AGC and AGS Links |
ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/vs-mit-apollo-guidance.html | M.I.T. Apollo Guidance Computer |
www.doneyles.com/LM/Tales.html | Tales From the Lunar Module Guidance Computer (by Don Eyles) |
www.apollosaturn.com/Lmnr/contents.htm | |
apollo.spaceborn.dk | |
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.1201-fm.html by Peter Adler and Don Eyles |
includes info about program alarms
1201 and 1202 comment: pin-headed reporters will have you believe that someone had mis-programmed the computer (AGC). This notion is completely wrong. In fact, the AGC was truly fault-tolerant and continued to function even though it was too busy to process all the incoming information. These alarms basically mean "I am too busy to do all you are asking of me so I'm only go to pay attention to the important stuff". To make matters worse, many people, including Apollo astronauts, were not provided with a correct understanding of the Rendezvous Radar mode switch which has these three labels: AUTO TRACK, SLEW, and LGC. Everyone thought that whenever the switch was not set to LGC, it was connected to the Abort Guidance Computer. Fact: the AGC was overloaded even when LGC was not selected because of a hardware interface problem between the AGC and the Grumman manufactured Rendezvous Radar. Both systems were powered by individual A.C. power supplies running at 800 Hz which where not synchronized to each other. This problem had been identified by many people before Apollo 11 but had slipped through the cracks. On top of that, the quick fix suggested before lunar ascent was to depower the Rendezvous Radar which kept it quiescent (unable to interrupt the AGC) so this is proof that Buzz Aldrin did not cause the 1201-1202 affair. |
astro.uni-tuebingen.de/~wilms/computers/apollo.html |
Number | Title |
---|---|
Service | |
P00 | LGC Idling |
P06 | PGNCS Power |
P07 | Systems Test (Non-flight) |
Ascent | |
P12 | Powered Ascent Guidance |
Coast | |
P20 | Rendezvous Navigation |
P21 | Ground Track Determination |
P22 | RR Lunar Surface Navigation |
P25 | Preferred Tracking Attitude |
P27 | LGC Update |
Pre-thrusting | |
P30 | External delta-V |
P32 | Co-elliptic Sequence Initiation (CSI) |
P33 | Constant Delta Altitude (CDH) |
P34 | Transfer Phase Initiation (TPI) |
P35 | Transfer Phase Midcourse (TPM) |
Thrust | |
P40 | DPS Thrusting |
P41 | RCS Thrusting |
P42 | APS Thrusting |
P47 | Thrust Monitor |
Alignments | |
PP51 | IMU Orientation Determination |
P52 | IMU Realign |
P57 | Lunar Surface Alignment |
Descent & Landing | |
P63 | Landing Maneuver Braking Phase |
P64 | Landing Maneuver Approach Phase |
P66 | Rate of Descent Landing (ROD) |
P68 | Landing Confirmation |
Aborts & Backups | |
P70 | DPS Abort |
P71 | APS Abort |
P72 | CSM Co-elliptic Sequence Initiation (CSI) Targeting |
P73 | CSM Constant Delta Altitude (CDH) Targeting |
P74 | CSM Transfer Phase Initiation (TPI) Targeting |
P75 | CSM Transfer Phase Midcourse (TPM) Targeting |
P76 | Target delta V. |
Verb codes | |
---|---|
05 | Display Octal Components 1, 2, 3 in R1, R2, R3. |
06 | DDisplay Decimal (Rl or R1, R2 or R1, R2, R3) |
25 | Load Component 1, 2, 3 into R1, R2, R3. |
27 | Display Fixed Memory |
37 | Change Program (Major Mode) |
47 | Initialize AGS (R47) |
48 | Request DAP Data Load Routine (RO3) |
49 | Request Crew Defined Maneuver Routine (R62) |
50 | Please Perform |
54 | Mark X or Y reticle |
55 | IIncrement LGC Time (Decimal) |
57 | Permit Landing Radar Updates |
59 | Command LR to Position 2 |
60 | Display Vehicle Attitude Rates (FDAI) |
63 | Sample Radar Once per Second (R04) |
69 | Cause Restart |
71 | Universal Update, Block Address (P27) |
75 | EEnable U, V Jets Firing During DPS Burns |
76 | Minimum Impulse Command Mode (DAP) |
77 | Rate Command and Attitude Hold Mode (DAP) |
82 | Request Orbit Parameter Display (R30) |
83 | Request Rendezvous Parameter Display (R31) |
97 | Perform Engine Fail Procedure (R40) |
99 | Please Enable Engine Ignition |
Noun Codes | |
---|---|
111 | TIG of CSI |
13 | TIG of CDH |
16 | Time of Event |
18 | Auto Maneuver to FDAI Ball Angles |
24 | Delta Time for LGC Clock |
32 | Time from Perigee |
33 | Time of Ignition |
34 | Time of Event |
35 | Time from Event |
36 | TTime of LGC Clock |
37 | Time of Ignition of TPI |
40 | (a) Time from Ignition/Cutoff (b) VG (c) Delta V (Accumulated) |
41 | Target Azimuth and Target Elevation |
42 | (a) Apogee Altitude (b) Perigee Altitude (c) Delta V (Required) |
43 | (a) Latitude (+North) (b) Longitude (+East) (c) Altitude |
44 | (a) Apogee Altitude ((b) Perigee Altitude (c) TFF |
45 | (a) Marks (b) TFI of Next/Last Burn (c) MGA |
54 | (a) Range (b) Range Rate (c) Theta |
61 | (a) TGO in Braking Phase (b) TFI (c) Cross Range Distance |
65 | Sampled LGC Time |
66 | LR Slant Range and LR Position |
68 | (a) Slant Range to Landing Site (b) TGO in Braking Phase (c) LR Altitude-computed altitude |
69 | Landing Site Correction, Z, Y and X |
76 | (a) Desired Horizontal Velocity (b) Desired Radial Velocity (c) Cross-Range Distance |
89 | (a) Landmark Latitude (+N) (b) Longitude/2 (+E) (c) Altitude |
992 | (a) Desired Thrust Percentage of DPS (b) Altitude Rate (c) Computed Altitude |
'Eagle Lander 3d' was written by Ron Monsen (an American living and working in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)