> The Globus INK is a remarkable piece of machinery, an analog computer that calculates orbits through an intricate system of gears, cams, and differentials. It provided astronauts with a high-resolution, full-color display of the spacecraft's position, way beyond what an electronic space computer could provide in the 1960s.
If nothing else, at least skim through this article to see the photos. It really was quite a remarkable and beautiful piece of machinery!
You've probably already seen it, but there's a classic US Navy training film which talks about how they were used to solve differential equations in battleships around the WWII era.
If nothing else, at least skim through this article to see the photos. It really was quite a remarkable and beautiful piece of machinery!