Scarce bracket-bound manual from the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory entitled "R-507 REV. 1, G&N System Operations Plan, Mission AS-204A/205, Vol. I, October 1966," bound in its original blue "Apollo Guidance and Navigation" softcover wrappers, 8.5″ x 11″ x 1.75″, issued as copy #264 on the title page. The highly technical manual governs the operation of the Guidance and Navigation System and defines its functional interface with the spacecraft, flight crew, and ground support systems on Missions AS-204 and AS-205. The manual’s five sections include “Introduction,” “Operational Concept,” “G&N System Description,” “Guidance Laws and Equations,” and “G&N Mission Operational Modes,” the latter of which provides a lengthy program and routine listings as part of the "Apollo Computer Logic Checklist Interface," for example: “Program Inter-Relationship,” “Verb-Noun List,” “Checklist Codes,” “Error Codes,” “Star Codes,” “Program Logic Flow Chart,” “General Information,” “AGC Idling,” “Prelaunch Initialization,” “Gyro Compassing,” and so on. In fine condition, with some scuffing and creasing to covers, and light foxing to textblock.
AS-204A, manned by Gus Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee, was intended 'to verify spacecraft crew operations and CSM subsystems performance for an earth-orbit mission of up to 14 days' duration and to verify the launch vehicle subsystems performance in preparation for subsequent operational Saturn IB missions.' After several delays throughout 1966, the launch was finally scheduled to take place on February 21, 1967. A fire broke out in the Apollo 1 capsule during a launch rehearsal on January 27, 1967, claiming the lives of all three crewmen. The tragedy led to a reevaluation of the Apollo spacecraft and the development of the Block II Command and Service Module. As a Guidance and Navigation computer document affiliated with the Apollo 1 spacecraft, this is a scarce and historic piece.
