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I am specifically asking about unmanned spacecraft here, during the 50s and early 60s before the earliest, relatively small, digital computers existed (like the D-17B from 1962, used by the minuteman I). Especially on the soviet side of things since they where lagging behind the west in terms of electronics technology. I know for example the N1 used analog onboard computers. If you know any specific details about how the electronics/mechanisms for: control, maneuvering, communication, data processing and recording worked, pleas share them. I would also greatly appreciate it if anyone knows off any resources where I can learn more about this.

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    $\begingroup$ As written, this question is probably too broad for the site. We can address specific questions. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 21 at 17:13
  • $\begingroup$ I concur with @RussellBorogove. The short answer to your very broad question is "analog computing and application-specific circuits". $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 21 at 17:45
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    $\begingroup$ @BogMan Welcome to Stack Exchange! It's clear you worked hard to ask a specific question for specific information, I don't think this had to be closed. But now that it is, I think the best path to getting it reopened would be to delete some of the tags and instead add the resource-request tag and ask "Where can I read further about how circa 50's and 60's electronics/mechanisms for control, maneuvering, communication, data processing and recording worked?" And you can add to the question a mention that any recommendation for a specific spacecraft to focus on would be appreciated. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 22 at 2:59
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    $\begingroup$ You can also ask as many good questions as you like here, so if for example you can ask one narrowly-focused question, get some answers, then ask one or two more questions based on those answers in a sort of leapfrog technique, that's fine too. Folks like to write fairly narrowly focused answers, so to cover a big topic, try to tile it with several different, but related questions, and make sure they include links to each other, like "this answer got me thinking, so now I'd like to ask..." $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 22 at 3:02
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    $\begingroup$ The magic word you are probably after is 'sequencer' - the early probes did not have a computer so much as a glorified alarm clock that could be ordered to do a set of things in order. Internet seems to have forgotten a number of sources for this, but page 80 of this ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19780007206/downloads/… talks about the Ranger series. If you edit the question so it can be re-opened can do an answer from that and some print sources. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 22 at 8:52

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