NASA Computers 1957-1959 IBM 704 - VANGUARD SATELLITE Launch "Science in Space" (Burroughs Datatron)

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1960 film from the National Academy of Sciences focuses on the 1957 to 1959 time period and the developments in the U.S. Space exploration activities especially the early Satellite Program and Vanguard Project. Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), established to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Vanguard rockets were used by Project Vanguard from 1957 to 1959.Show more

In response to the Soviet Russia launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the U.S. increased its funding and research into space satellites and related technologies. Numerous launches were attempted including the unfortunate televised failure of Vanguard TV3 on December 6, 1957. On March 17, 1958, Vanguard 1 was successfully launched into earth orbit.

Space Race and Digital Computers - - - - -

From an historical perspective, this time period was one of tremendous growth in the early digital computer field. Calculations for launch of spacecraft and determining orbital trajectories required high powered computers, along with sophisticated tracking equipment.

This film shows several early computers in use at that time.

About the Computers Seen in this film - - - - - - -

Time index: 15:50
IBM 704 Scientific Computer
IBM 704 Data Processing Machine was introduced by IBM in 1954. It was the first mass-produced computer with floating-point arithmetic hardware. It was designed for scientific and engineering applications. The 704 was a large-scale, vacuum-tube based, high-speed electronic, stored program calculator. It used core memory rather than Williams tubes. IBM produced 123 of the model 704 computers between 1955 and 1960.
Related 704 peripheral equipment included the 711 Punched Card Reader, 716 Alphabetic Printer, 721 Punched Card Recorder, 727 Magnetic Tape Units and 753 Tape Control Unit, 733 Magnetic Drum Reader and Recorder, and 737 Magnetic Core Storage Unit.
The US Navy utilized the IBM 704 to receive and analyze telemetry data from the Vanguard satellite to calculate and predict the real time orbit of Vanguard. (The 704 was also used by the U.S. to track the orbit of Sputnik.)
According to IBM Archives, in 1958, an IBM 705 computer at IBM's Vanguard Computing Center aided in the launch and tracking of Explorer I, the first non-Soviet Earth satellite. The satellite disclosed evidence of Earth-circling radiation belts. The 705 data processing system was a powerful magnetic tape computer capable of 1,364,000 logical decisions a minute.

Burroughs Electrodata “Datatron”
Burroughs “Datatron” computer (seen only very briefly in the film) was introduced in 1954 by Electrodata Corporation. Burroughs Corporation acquired Electrodata in 1966 and marketed the Datatron computer as part of the Burroughs line.
Although initially successful, both the IBM 704 and the Burroughs Datatron computers were essentially becoming obsolete technology by 1960 when this film was released. They continued to be used by many organizations into the 1960’s. However, they were no longer manufactured as newer faster machines became available. (Note: Burroughs acquired Sperry Corporation in 1986 and formed UNISYS, which now owns all Burroughs computer copyrights.)

IBM Archives: The IBM 704
https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP704.htm

Facts about the Burroughs Datatron (ElectroData)
https://tjsawyer.com/B205home.php

Article: Tracking the Man-Made Satellite
https://www.rfcafe.com/references/radio-news/tracking-man-made-satellite-july-1957-radio-tv-news.htm

Vanguard – A History (NASA publication)
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4202/toc2.html

Many thanks to Speakeasy Archives for digital transfer of original film
http://www.speakeasyarchives.com

Uploaded for educational use and historical review and comment only.
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