Visual Introduction to the Apollo Guidance Computer, part 3: Manufacturing the Apollo Guidance Computer. The AGC used magnetic core rope memory to store its programs (what today we would call ROM). It used magnetic core arrays to store it's dynamic memory, what we would call RAM. Photograph © Raytheon, from the files of Jack Poundstone. Producing these required skills analogous to textile work, which had long been part of the New England labor force. Photograph © Raytheon, from the files of Jack Poundstone. The AGC also used the novel integrated circuits for its digital logic. It was a risky choice, as the technology was considered untested at the time, but was necessary to fit the system into the small weight and size required for the Apollo mission. © The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. An early production model (Block I) of the AGC, showing the internal arrangement of circuit and logic modules. This version had to be redesigned when it was realized that the environment inside the Command Module was corrosive, and hence all electronics had to be completely sealed. Photograph © Raytheon, from the files of Jack Poundstone The Block II design of the AGC, which actually flew the Apollo missions, incorporates a rugged case and sealed modules to protect them from the Command Modules environment. © The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Building the AGC drew on the manufacturing skills of Raytheon, Philco, Delco, and a variety of other companies. [Return] Photograph © Raytheon, from the files of Jack Poundstone. site last updated 12-08-2002 by Alexander Brown