Apollo Guidance Computer Part 28: real DSKY display works again after 50 years

For the first time in about 50 years, we relight a real Apollo DSKY screen! And we can finally see the mythical glow in person. Much to our collective surprise, the screen is stupendously good - it could pass for a modern high resolution phone screen. We thank our sponsor *Samtec* for fabricating the NASA-spec connector pins, and of course Marcel for lending us just not one, but two of his precious displays. Chapters: 00:00 Intro, Apollo DSKY relight short 01:27 What’s an Apollo DSKY? 02:51 Block I and Block II DSKY 07:18 DSKY Reproductions 10:19 We get our hands on two real DSKY displays 12:30 Rewiring the DSKY 14:07 Latching relay drivers 16:39 First light with the early DSKY prototype 17:16 Checking out the NASA relay logic 22:40 Samtec pins and wire wrapping 23:57 SUCCESS! Functional flight spare DSKY! 25:55 Debugging the driver circuit 29:44 We’ve been hosed by CCA wires! 31:32 FIXED! Beauty shots of the working DSKY display DSKY Relight short video: Carl’s blog: Applied Science videos on EL displays - Electroluminescent displays: - DSKY display recreation: Apollo Guidance Computer Restoration playlist: Many thanks to Samtec, who re-manufactured the NASA-spec contacts: Our sponsor for PCBs: Support the team on Patreon: Buy shirts on Teespring: Learn more on the companion site: Contact info: