NEWS ITEMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Computer Museum of America Event to Unveil Rare Artifacts from NASA’s Apollo Space Program: Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) and Display Keyboard (DSKY)
New Exhibition May Be Viewed First at Bytes & Brews on June 24
WHEN: Friday, June 24, 2022, from 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
WHERE: Computer Museum of America (CMoA)
5000 Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076
ROSWELL, Ga. (May 17, 2022) – The Computer Museum of America (CMoA), one of the Atlanta area’s most unique museums showcasing a comprehensive collection of artifacts from the digital revolution, will unveil two rare pieces from NASA’s Apollo program, the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) and Display Keyboard (DSKY), at Bytes & Brews on June 24, the first of this popular event series in 2022. CMoA began hosting the after-hours event series last year offering an opportunity for guests to take a sneak peek at upcoming rare and sought after displays before they open to the public. The event will be 21+ and feature live music, a cash bar, “bytes” (light snacks), and access to the museum between 5:30 and 9 p.m. on Friday, June 24.
The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) was the onboard computer for Apollo 7 in late 1968 to Apollo 17 in 1972. These computers could control the spacecraft and were cutting edge at the time, performing real-time calculations needed for navigation and guidance. It is estimated that less than two dozen AGCs remain in museums and private collections today, making the opportunity to see this exhibit at CMoA an unforgettable experience.
The Display Keyboard (DSKY) allowed crew members to communicate with the AGC. It operated with a numerical keyboard, two rows of status lights, and a lighted numerical display. Astronauts entered commands to the computer by keying in two-digit numeric codes in a “verb, noun” pattern. For example, astronauts could enter codes to request “display velocity” which would return a numeric result in the lighted panel.
In the early 1960s, computers with enough power to perform precise navigations were room-sized and required an army of technicians to keep the machines running. NASA’s solution was to develop smaller, lighter computers that could be placed onboard the spacecraft – such as the rare AGC and DSKY to be unveiled on June 24.
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced an ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the moon before the end of the decade. At that moment in time, the U.S. had a mere 15 minutes of human spaceflight experience. CMoA’s new exhibit will introduce visitors to these two, now rare navigational devices and the part they played in landing a man on the moon. Visit CMoA to better understand the breadth of computing, technology, and good, old-fashioned ingenuity that allowed NASA’s space program to succeed.
Advance tickets for the Bytes & Brews event unveiling the AGC and DSKY on Friday, June 24th from 5:30 to 9 p.m. cost $20 for CMoA members and $25 for non-members. “Bytes” are offered at no charge and drinks will be an additional purchase. Information at www.ComputerMuseumOfAmerica.org; register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bytes-brews-museum-after-hours-tickets-273074913417
About the Computer Museum of America
Computer Museum of America (CMoA) located north of Atlanta in Roswell, Ga. is a nonprofit organization that houses one of the world’s largest, most comprehensive collections of artifacts from the digital revolution. Opened in 2019 with four exhibits – A Tribute to Apollo 11, Supercomputing: Vanquishing the Impossible, Timeline of Computing History, and The Byte Magazine Collection – CMoA continues to unveil major new exhibits such as a fully restored and operational Enigma machine, the World War II-era cipher computer made famous in the 2014 film The Imitation Game about the revolutionary code-breaking work by Alan Turing, the NASA owned Cray-2 exhibit which opened in 2021, and Computers in the Movies which opened in 2022.
CMoA has worked with educational institutions, museums, and film companies with technology-related exhibits and artifacts including the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Smithsonian Institution and is committed to the preservation of computing devices, documents, and technology in order to exhibit, educate, and encourage future innovation. The museum is currently open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays and is located at 5000 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA 30076. Additionally, the vast 44,000 square foot space is available for private events of all types. For more information, visit www.ComputerMuseumOfAmerica.org.
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Media Contact:
Rena Youngblood
ryoungblood@thecmoa.org
404-455-1520