1960 NASA code uploaded to GitHub, modern programmers amused

Former NASA intern Chris Garry uploaded an old 1960 programming code for the Apollo missions to GitHub last July 7 and it’s like looking into a time capsule. GitHub is the code-sharing site where programmers hang out these days.

The code was written using the assembly programming language, which is largely obscure as far as modern programmers are concerned. It has been available online since 2003 in the form of transcriptions from the original hard copies from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Unfortunately, despite the transcription and sharing efforts of one Ron Burkley, the code had remained mostly inaccessible to most developers, Quartz reported.

Now that the code has reached GitHub, however, more programmers have been able to dissect it and get a look at how their counterparts from 1960 did their work.

More than boring explanations on what each line of code worked, the programming community also found humorous and playful lines that reflected the environment and culture that surrounded the programmers of 1960.

For example, the ignition sequence code was called BURN_BABY_BURN—MASTER_IGNITION_ROUTINE and contained a brief explanation as to why.

More lighthearted comments, besides the lines of code, can be found, such as “TEMPORARY, I HOPE HOPE HOPE” and “PLEASE CRANK THE SILLY THING AROUND.”

Apart from the look into the past, modern programmers can also suggest improvements and ideas that might prove helpful for NASA’s future endeavors.  Alfred Bayle