Comparison Of Important Tools, On both sides of the Space race |
Comparison Of Important Tools, On both sides of the Space race |
Feb 19 2006, 05:26 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Here are two nearly identical images. One of these was used by Sergei Korolyev, the other by Wherner von Braun. Can you tell which is which?
And here's a more interesting question -- how many of us here on UMSF have actually *used* a slide rule in their lives? I know I used a slide rule, even in a completely non-engineering field -- I'd use it to do basic scaling functions when doing layout on newspapers and such. Since both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their own personal slide rules to the Moon, people were obviously using them only 35 or so years ago. So, how many of us have ever used one? -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Feb 19 2006, 08:42 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2228 Joined: 1-December 04 From: Marble Falls, Texas, USA Member No.: 116 |
My experience pretty much mirrors tty's. I still have my Post Versalog 1460. I used it in high school and for a couple of years in college, but the chemistry department eventually purchased a cabinet-sized calculator (can't recall the brand), and we all went wild for it's ability to display our results to a level of precision that far exceeded that of the input data.
When the handheld calculators came out I eventually bought an HP with RPN. I only use HPs with RPN and wouldn't have it any other way. I am such a fan of RPN that I insisted that my children use HPs with RPN as they grew up. They learned to appreciate it's calculation efficiency and the side benefits. Few if any of their friends ever asked to borrow their calculators, people were less likely to steal them, and if some one did steal one, you at least had the satisfaction of knowing they would probably not know how to use it. As for your first question Doug, I can't tell which is which. -------------------- ...Tom
I'm not a Space Fan, I'm a Space Exploration Enthusiast. |
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Feb 19 2006, 10:00 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2488 Joined: 17-April 05 From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Member No.: 239 |
I can't tell the slipsticks apart, either!
In the world of fiction, a high proportion of Robert A Heinlein's classic characters would have sooner walked naked across the surface of Luna than be without their trusty slide rules - and who can forget the Kelly Freas Analog cover for Gordon R Dickson's 'Hilifter', featuring a mangy space pirate boarding a fat treasure vessel, trusty slide rule between his teeth... I *have* regularly used a slide rule (although specialised in form), and even in fairly recent times, and *yes*, they're still very much in use in an area which ought not to be a surprise. I'd wager that *most* astronauts are very familiar with that particular device. I'd be entirely unsurprised to hear that a few of the specialised variety have made it into space, too... ...and perhaps not just for fun! Let's see who's first to have that smack on the forehead moment - and then I'll post a scan. Bob Shaw -------------------- Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
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Feb 19 2006, 10:17 PM
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Dublin Correspondent Group: Admin Posts: 1799 Joined: 28-March 05 From: Celbridge, Ireland Member No.: 220 |
Let's see who's first to have that smack on the forehead moment - and then I'll post a scan. My gut feeling on this is that it's something to do with flying and navigation. It would seem fairly sensible to demand that if all else fails that pilots would have an extremely solid state reliable calculator on hand. |
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Feb 19 2006, 11:34 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2488 Joined: 17-April 05 From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Member No.: 239 |
My gut feeling on this is that it's something to do with flying and navigation. It would seem fairly sensible to demand that if all else fails that pilots would have an extremely solid state reliable calculator on hand. That's the one. Pilots use a so-called 'computer' - a circular slide rule - to calculate a wide range of values associated with flying. Anyone who trains in the UK to fly as a private pilot will have been exposed to such a device (or should have been, anyway!). And I'll be astonished if none have made it into orbit! Bob Shaw -------------------- Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
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