Apollo Block II command Module GN&C Block Diagram
Draper/MIT began designing the Apollo GN&C system immediately after NASA awarded it the Apollo program’s first contract in August 1961.  By mid-1962, changes in the mission plans meant that MIT had to design two GN&C systems: one for the Lunar Module that would land on the lunar surface and one for the Command Module that would be orbiting the moon. In 1963, MIT introduced a new design for the Command Module system called Block II. One year later, autopilot capabilities were added to the system, and by the end of 1965, MIT finalized its design based on this chalkboard diagram.

The panels show how the engineers integrated every key element into the design. Signs off of the key participants is on the right: NASA, MIT, North American Aviation. On hand were Astronauts Jim McDivitt, Ed White, Rusty Schweickart; MIT IL: Dave Hoag, John Miller, Eldon Hall, Jerry Gilmore, Don Bowler; and NASA JSC: Cline Frasier, Cliff Duncan, Paul Ebersole, and Chuck Wasson.

Photo credit: Jerry Gilmore