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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: Homer J Simpson on September 21, 2015, 08:42:26 pm

Title: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: Homer J Simpson on September 21, 2015, 08:42:26 pm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06drBN8nlWg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06drBN8nlWg)

The Sage System was pretty amazing for its time.

Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Automatic_Ground_Environment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Automatic_Ground_Environment)

Operation started in 1958 and some parts continued until 1983/84.

Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: Stonent on September 21, 2015, 09:48:18 pm
Yes, very interesting first generation semi-automated missile defense system.  They could fire a Beaumont Bomarc missile and take out inbound planes or other missiles.

Here's some more information from MIT
http://www.ll.mit.edu/about/History/SAGEairdefensesystem.html (http://www.ll.mit.edu/about/History/SAGEairdefensesystem.html)

Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: cimmo on September 22, 2015, 02:25:17 am
Yes, very interesting first generation semi-automated missile defense system.  They could fire a Beaumont missile and take out inbound planes or other missiles.

Did you mean "Bomarc"?
"The Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc was a supersonic ramjet powered interceptor for Cold War air defense of North America which, in addition to being the first long-range anti-aircraft missile, was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force." -from wiki
Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: Stonent on September 22, 2015, 04:00:19 pm
Yes, very interesting first generation semi-automated missile defense system.  They could fire a Beaumont missile and take out inbound planes or other missiles.

Did you mean "Bomarc"?
"The Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc was a supersonic ramjet powered interceptor for Cold War air defense of North America which, in addition to being the first long-range anti-aircraft missile, was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force." -from wiki

Yeah you're right.  I re-watched a video I had seen before describing it, it does sound more like Bomarc.
Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: retrolefty on September 22, 2015, 06:53:11 pm
Yes, very interesting first generation semi-automated missile defense system.  They could fire a Beaumont missile and take out inbound planes or other missiles.

Did you mean "Bomarc"?
"The Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc was a supersonic ramjet powered interceptor for Cold War air defense of North America which, in addition to being the first long-range anti-aircraft missile, was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force." -from wiki

 That is because the U.S. Army operated and controlled the vast Nike/Hercules SAM defense, mostly protecting large population cities. The Herc could carry a nuclear warhead.
Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: cimmo on September 22, 2015, 09:26:27 pm
That is because the U.S. Army operated and controlled the vast Nike/Hercules SAM defense, mostly protecting large population cities. The Herc could carry a nuclear warhead.
For those interested in such things, look up the "Sprint" ABM:
"The Sprint accelerated at 100 g, reaching a speed of Mach 10 in 5 seconds. Such a high velocity at relatively low altitudes created skin temperatures up to 3400°C (6200°F), requiring an ablative shield to dissipate the heat."

And as an example of the left hand of government not knowing what the right hand is doing:
"The Sprint was in operational service for only a few months in the Safeguard program, from October 1975 to early 1976."

Quotes from wiki.
Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: Homer J Simpson on September 22, 2015, 10:05:42 pm
Here is some more specific reading on the AN/FSQ-7 computers that were used.

From Wikipedia;

" "
The largest computer ever built, (125 tons each). Two used in each application for redundancy.

60,000 vacuum tubes.

Required 3 Megawatts of electricity.

75,000 instructions per second.

Wire core memory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/FSQ-7_Combat_Direction_Central
Title: Re: Cold War Computing: The SAGE System
Post by: Macbeth on September 22, 2015, 10:54:52 pm
Wow! 75KIPS !!  :-DD