Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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We get a chance to inspect the actual Apollo Guidance System that flew in NASA's F8 Digital Fly-By-Wire experimental plane. We explain how it worked, and recover the software from its core rope memory. The result is a bit of a surprise!

Apollo Guidance Computer Restoration Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-_93BVApb59FWrLZfdlisi_x7-Ut_-w7

More videos showing some of Steve Jurvetson’s collection:
Steve’s collection part 1: youtu.be/3Y-MosGsFMs
Steve’s collection part 2: youtu.be/5ZBRw07Ibgo
Steve’s collection part 3: youtu.be/3Y-MosGsFMs

Virtual AGC Github repository:
github.com/virtualagc/virtualagc

Stuff that supports the channel:
- Amazon links for the tools I use in the lab: curiousmarc.com/amazon-links
- Channel merch on Fourthwall: curiousmarc-shop.fourthwall.com
- Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousmarc

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- PCBWay: fast turn PCBs, pcbway.com
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Get more technical info on the companion site: curiousmarc.com
Contact info: youtube.com/curiousmarc/about

00:00 Summary of previous episodes
02:05 The F8 Fly-By-Wire pallet
03:43 Why Digital Fly-By-Wire?
06:24 NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
08:08 NASA's F8 DFBW program
14:10 Shuttle support missions
15:20 Inspecting the pallet
19:05 Apollo SPS engine
20:43 Core rope extraction
24:58 Liquid Nitrogen cooling
25:56 Reading the core ropes
29:22 Running and explaining the recovered software
32:20 Mike's core rope recovery to date