“Houston, We Have Re-entry.” We all love watching a spacecraft lift off, but equally imp

“Houston, We Have Re-entry.”

We all love watching a spacecraft lift off, but equally important is its re-entry into the atmosphere at the end of a mission. On September 15, 1966, Gemini 11 became the first American crewed spacecraft to make a fully-automated onboard computer controlled re-entry. Guiding the spacecraft during this nail-biting endeavor? A 59-pound IBM computer designed to calculate the intricate maneuvers needed for safe re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. It was a landmark demonstration of trust in machinery, as the procedure went off without a hitch and set a new precedent for the world to cheer.

Learn more about IBM and the Gemini Program ->