NASA Before PowerPoint in 1961

Ever heard the saying “It’s not rocket science!”? It’s often used by smart-asses who know nothing about rocket science. But then again, who does? It is, after all, super difficult. Well, NASA does, obviously, and back in the early 60s rocket science was even more complicated than it is now.

These days you can probably figure out how much fuel you need to get to the moon and back on a smartphone app, and if you want to know the weight of Neptune then you can simply search it on Google. But back in the 1961, scientists at NASA were still doing things with a piece of chalk and a giant blackboard. And believe it or not, they put the first US astronaut into space that very same year, a feat made all the more impressive when you remember that the electronic calculator hadn’t even been invented yet (h/t: vintage everyday)

nasa-presentation-before-powerpoint-1961-3

Image credits: J. R. Eyerman, via LIFE

nasa-presentation-before-powerpoint-1961-2

Image credits: J. R. Eyerman, via LIFE

What do you think ?

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Owen Sayaman 8 years ago

This truly is old-school -- imagine what they accomplished using pen(or chalk) & paper(or board)! Much respect to these guys.

6points

Wayne He 8 years ago

Those equations give me headache...

3points

Luis Sancho 8 years ago

So...I assume only left handed people could write on the right upper part of the blackboard. Imagine a right handed fellow trying to write there, hanging to his life with his left hand on that very tall ladder...

0points

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NASA Before PowerPoint in 1961

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