Apollo Core Rope Memory (Apollo Guidance Computer Part 30)

Core Rope Memory, which contained the programs that landed man on the Moon in the 1960s, is insanely complicated. But that won't stop Mike from making a custom reader for it, so he can recover Apollo Guidance Computer programs lost to history.

Mike Stewart's Core Rope Visualizer: http://apolloguidance.computer/rope/

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

Core Memory Videos:
https://youtu.be/AwsInQLmjXc
https://youtu.be/7ozNMgx7WtQ
https://youtu.be/e9ih93tuH1k

Look Mum No Computer Core Rope Drum Machine: https://youtu.be/zytjONYkU94

Mike's Electric Stuff Soviet Dialer: https://youtu.be/tPT6nIRFI_I

Stuff that supports the channel:
- Amazon links for the tools I use in the lab (supports the channel if you buy from there)
https://www.curiousmarc.com/amazon-links
- Channel merch on Teespring: https://teespring.com/stores/curiousmarcs-store
- Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/curiousmarc

Our lovely sponsors
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- Keysight: test instruments: https://www.keysight.com
- Samtec: connectors: https://www.samtec.com
- R&D Microwaves: https://rdmicrowaves.com

Get more technical info on the companion site: https://www.curiousmarc.com
Contact info: https://www.youtube.com/curiousmarc/about

00:00 Intro: Apollo Guidance Computer restoration
02:21 What is core rope memory?
05:16 Previous core rope recoveries with our AGC
06:44 Our AGC is sold at auction
07:36 Mike's core rope reader prototype
11:09 Last minute core rope "hack" for Apollo 11
14:04 Software recovered so far
14:48 Trying the reader for the first time and error
17:56 Core rope explanation: data encoding
20:13 Transformer rope is not core rope
21:24 Core rope explanation: reading using bistable cores
26:09 Core rope explanation: molybdenum permalloy cores
28:22 Experimental demo of moly cores
31:49 Core rope explanation: addressing with inhibits
33:59 Apollo core rope simulator, inhibit wires
35:56 Set and reset wires
37:45 Parity wires and the design error
45:02 Mike fixes the reader and tries again
47:38 Success! Congrats Mike!