SAGE - Semi Automatic Ground Environment - Part 2/2

THIS FILM IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

(continued from part 1...)
The AN/FSQ-7 is the largest computer ever built, and will likely hold that record in the future. Each machine used 55,000 vacuum tubes, about ½ acre (2,000 m²) of floor space, weighed 275 tons and used up to three megawatts of power, although the failure rate of an individual tube was low due to efforts in quality control. Each SAGE site included two computers for redundancy, with one processor on "hot standby" at all times. In spite of the poor reliability of the tubes, this dual-processor design made for remarkably high overall system uptime. 99% availability was not unusual.
SAGE operator's terminal. The light pen, which was shaped similar to a handheld power drill or gun, is resting on the console. The terminal's desk contains a built-in ash tray just left of the light pen.
SAGE operator's terminal. The light pen, which was shaped similar to a handheld power drill or gun, is resting on the console. The terminal's desk contains a built-in ash tray just left of the light pen.

SAGE sites were connected to multiple radar stations which transmitted tracking data (range and azimuth) in digitized format by modem over ordinary telephone lines. These digitized inputs were automatically prepared from analog radar inputs by the AN/FST-2B (or successor, AN/FYQ-47[1]) at the radar stations. The SAGE computers then collected the tracking data for display on a CRT as icons. Situation Display (SD) console operators at the center could select any of the "targets" on the display with a light gun, and then display additional information about the tracking data reported by the radar stations. Up to 150 operators could be supported from each center. Each SD operator console was equipped with an integral cigarette lighter and ashtray.

SAGE site operators could also request height data when needed from their CRT. These height requests were digitized and sent to a radar station that was tracking the "targets". At the radar station, the height requests were displayed to an operator on an analog Range Height Indicator (RHI) CRT display by moving the height cursor. The operator then centered the height cursor on the "target" and depressed a button to send the updated height information back to the SAGE site in much the same way as the tracking data.

When a target turned out to be interesting, SAGE also helped the operator to select a proper response. Reports similar to those from the radar stations kept the SAGE system up to date with information on the availability and status of various weapons and aircraft, including all airfields, BOMARC and Nike Hercules anti-aircraft missile sites. When the operator chose one of these to intercept the target, orders would automatically be sent via teletype to local controllers who would take over from there. Additional messages would also be sent to higher headquarters, as well as other SAGE centers.

In normal operation, communications between the SAGE centers and the interceptor aircraft was relayed via radio equipment at the radar sites, which were more widely spread out than the SAGE centers themselves. A properly equipped aircraft, like the F-106 Delta Dart, could feed the SAGE directions into the autopilot and fly "hands off" to the interception. Older aircraft, which were common when SAGE was first being deployed, could be directed by voice.

A massive building program started along with continued work on the computer systems and communications, with the first groundbreaking at McChord AFB in 1957. The buildings were huge above-ground concrete bricks that were often placed near cities without the residents being aware of what they were. The first SAGE Division became operational in Syracuse, New York in January 1959, and by 1963 the system was already complete with 22 Sector Direction Centers and three similar Combat Centers. When NORAD was set up another site was added in North Bay, Ontario in Canada, although in this case the entire SAGE system was buried approximately 700 feet underground in what became known as "the hole".

The total engineering effort for SAGE was immense. Total project cost remains unknown, but estimates place it between 8 and 12 billion 1964 dollars, more than the Manhattan Project that developed the nuclear bomb SAGE defended against.

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Film & Animation

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• sage02

[rotflmfaololzomg]

lol my name is sage

[Joni0001984]

If both sides only knew they were just scaring themselves to continue this silly cold war.

[DrBuzz0]

Pretty amazing what they managed to acomplish given the technology avaliable to create these systems. Things were a lot more difficult when you didn't have ample computer power to work with, so effeciency was extremely important in both design and programing

[superspit]

a little tiny bit earlier than 1984, actually.

But I see your point.

Cheers.

[lamancha2]

I wish my desktop computer had those testing lights.

[hypnotstcollector]

THere were 707's powered by nuclear reactors in 1960.

[tumsabai]

The IBM PC became availabe in 1984. It

was 4 mhz processor and 10 megabyte hard

drive. Also the DOS operating system had

to be loaded from a 5 1/4 inch floppy disk

each time computer was turned on. Not too

long ago.

[peejaa]

and just think what we have now :)

[1fatbastard]

An iPod can do the same thing now.

[mleverone]

what is this thing a computer?