Is this really the Saturn V computer only, or are there other systems here as well?

Question

The BBC News article Apollo in 50 Numbers; The Technology shows an image of the Saturn V's computer along with the caption:

The Saturn V's computer was probably the largest computer ever blasted into orbit (Credit: Nasa)

Question: I see a large number of individual boxes along the inside of this ring, and a large "cable harness" above providing interconnection between each box. Is all of this just the computer itself, or are there several related system present.

Organic Marble · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-06T13:10:05.397

18

That ring is the "instrument unit" (IU). Here's a picture of the component layout.

There is more there than a computer, but it's mostly dedicated to guidance, navigation, and control. There's a hugely detailed fact sheet here. It lists the systems of the IU as

A more detailed layout (same source as first picture).

Image source

edited Jul 06 '19 at 13:10

answered Jul 06 '19 at 12:46

Organic Marble

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fyi I've just asked What are these white cylindrical objects pointed in different directions in this photo of the Saturn V instrument unit? – uhoh Jul 06 '19 at 13:04
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new video Apollo's Forgotten Computer - The LVDC which links to NASA TN D-5869; Description and Performance of the Saturn Launch Vehicle's Navigation, Guidance, and Control System interesting dynamics are discussed, and there are some beautiful photos at various points in the video. – uhoh Aug 10 '19 at 04:31
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Here's a pretty cool video examining the instrument ring. It features a museum display of a mock ring fitted out like the real thing including (I think) a mix of surplus artifacts and reproductions. The neat thing about this video is explanations by a docent who is a former engineer having worked on the real thing during the Apollo program. Anyway, the IU includes all sorts of stuff besides a computer, including batteries, sensors, radios, and thermal management equipment (a sublimation unit). – Anthony X Sep 29 '19 at 19:34

Is this really the Saturn V computer only, or are there other systems here as well?

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