Apollo 11 Code Lives On in a Public GitHub Archive

The original Apollo 11 guidance computer source code is now preserved in a public GitHub repository, covering both the Command Module and Lunar Module software used for the mission.

The repository includes Comanche055, described as part of the source code for Colossus 2A, the Command Module’s Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) for Apollo 11, and Luminary099, part of the source code for Luminary 1A, the Lunar Module’s AGC for Apollo 11.

According to the repository, Comanche was assembled as revision 055 of the AGC program on APR. 1, 1969, at 10:28, while Luminary was assembled as revision 001 of AGC program LMY99 on JUL. 14, 1969, at 16:27. The code is listed as public domain.

The project says the source was digitized by Virtual AGC and the MIT Museum, with transcription based on digitized images of hardcopy material from the museum. The digitization was performed by Paul Fjeld and arranged by Deborah Douglas. The repository invites pull requests to fix any differences between the transcriptions and the original scans, or to add any missing files. Developers interested in building the code are directed to Virtual AGC, which uses the yaYUL assembler.

The historical paperwork included with the project identifies the Command Module program as prepared under DSR project 55-23870, sponsored by the Manned Spacecraft Center of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration through contract NAS 9-4065 with the Instrumentation Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

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The submission and approvals list includes Margaret H. Hamilton, identified as Colossus Programming Leader, Apollo Guidance and Navigation, alongside Daniel J. Lickly, Fred H. Martin, Norman E. Sears, Richard H. Battin, David G. Hoag, and Ralph R. Ragan, all dated 28 Mar 69.