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From Apollo to Arduino

How was a computer with far less processing power than a modern cell phone able to guide the Apollo 11 mission to the lunar surface?

Conference

How was a computer with far less processing power than a modern cell phone able to guide the Apollo 11 mission to the lunar surface?

  • Date: Oct. 5, 2026 Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Downtown Campus - Auditorium - Cuareim 1451
Intended for:High school students, college students, or anyone interested in computer science
Organized by:Space Uruguay

This talk will explore the history of the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), one of the most influential computers in history, and examine how it made one of the greatest feats of engineering possible.

Through an interactive demonstration inspired by its original interface, visitors will be able to see how astronauts entered commands, checked navigation information, and communicated with the computer during the mission.

What you'll find:

- The history of the Apollo Guidance Computer and why it revolutionized computing.

- How navigation worked during the descent to the Moon.

- An interactive demonstration inspired by the original interface that lets you experience how the computer was operated.

- How AGC technology influenced the development of modern computers and today's systems.

They exhibit

  • Emilia Lasaga

    Co-founder of Space Uruguay.

  • Rodrigo Vinícius Mendonça Pereira

    Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Research interests: embedded computing, integrated digital systems, aerospace systems, and Agriculture 4.0. 

Event Registration