This is the code in the Apollo Guidance Computer for Apollo 11.
It’s part of the LUMINARY sofware, which ran on the AGC on the Lunar Module. It’s meant to check if the landing radar is pointed toward the lunar surface - because the LM went through several orientations, the landing radar could be pointed to the front or the side or down. You’re landing on the Moon. Point it down.
Point is, you have to verify user input. Even if your users are the most meticulous and highly trained individuals in history. You have to see if they’re lying. So you get to the BURNBABY.
Browse the code in GitHub - this code is in THE_LUNAR_LANDING.agc
PLEASE CRANK THE SILLY THING AROUND should not be as hilarious as it is
in case anyone is curious, those comments are not a modern addition. They are a faithful reproduction of the original scanned copy of the code.
Sanitizing user input for the Moon landings.
Meanwhile in 2026, ask AI to change an authentication phone number and it says, “Sure thing!” And is ABLE to do it.
I don’t understand what this comment is meant to convey. Could you explain a bit further?
It’s trying to convey that software and engineering discipline has gone to shit. Software written to have some of the most skilled humans at the given task in 69 still had safeguards to double check that the user, despite being one of the most eminent experts, did not provide incorrect input.
Fast forward to 2026 and things have worsened to the point where ostensible “engineers” deploy systems that allow attackers to access people’s accounts simply by asking a bot, which blindly trusts the attackers.
I don’t know yet to which degree I agree, but that’s what the comment is meant to convey in my interpretation.
Thanks! 🙏
You say it like that it is a good thing. The actual reality looks like this: https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/meta-ai/article/metas-ai-chatbot-reportedly-helped-hackers-steal-instagram-accounts--all-they-had-to-do-was-ask-202138534.html
Or to supplement your statement “Meanwhile in 2026 you can ask AI to change the authentication phone number, regardless of if you actually own the account or not.”
Love that the termination routine is GOTOPOOH and the next step is BURNBABY
GOTOPOOHwas actually jargon for Program 00 (Hex), which was (I think?) the AGC’s normal idle routine.BURNBABYwas an alias forBURN_BABY_BURNwhich was the lunar descent burn sequence. Or something. I wouldn’t have named it that.
Interesting how similar this is at first glance to Kerboscript. Neat!
Is this KOS-related?
Edit: nope, a real language, not Kerbal Operating System.
TCF = Terminate and Catch Fire?
For those wondering about a serious answer,
TCwas Transfer Control (in most modern ISAs it’s calledJMP/JUMP) andTCFwas Transfer Control to a Subroutine (equivalent toJSR/CALL).
