From crash-landing a hypersonic aircraft to bringing a wildly spinning spacecraft under control, there's plenty of action in First Man, the blockbuster biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong, now showing in cinemas.
At one point, Armstrong - played by Ryan Gosling - is facing so many challenges during his historic landing on the moon that it all seems a bit far-fetched. Computer alarms are going off, the radar keeps bugging out, there’s virtually no fuel left - and Armstrong still can’t find anywhere to touch down safely.
And it’s true that the movie bends the facts. The reality was worse.
Mission Control kept losing contact with the Lunar Module (LM), which in any case was so distant that every communication took 2.5 seconds to make the round trip. The movie brilliantly conveys the sheer audacity of Armstrong’s achievements, all made using technology over half a century old.
But the film also holds lessons for those who think 21st century technology is smart enough to trust with, say, driving a car.
By today’s standards, the computing power used to make Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin the first men on the moon is risible.
A cheap pocket calculator packs a bigger punch. Certainly it could have spared the two astronauts the alarms that kept flashing during the descent – the result of the primitive on-board computer being overloaded.
But even today’s computer technology can be undone by a problem that nearly killed Armstrong and Aldrin: GIGO – garbage in, garbage out.
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Read more:
The dark side of the moon
Lunar eclipse witnessed by millions in UAE and worldwide – in pictures
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It’s at the heart of a mystery the movie dodges: how, despite all the planning, practice and dry runs, did Armstrong and Aldrin still end up staring disaster in the face?
The Apollo programme cost over $200bn in today's money, and was arguably the most complex engineering project ever undertaken. It was also unprecedented in the determination of those involved to think of everything.
From using fuels that didn’t need ignition systems to predicting deadly radiation storms from the sun, America’s best and brightest dealt with every conceivable threat.
Almost. As the LM came into land, Armstrong saw the landing-site was a huge crater, with car-sized boulders around it.
This was not in the plan. Mission planners had spent years pondering the safest place to make the first manned landing. They scoured the best earth-bound telescopic images. Then they sent low-flying probes over the Moon which were able to take images of objects as small as a metre or so across.
After one last check using images from Apollo 10 just weeks before the historic mission, the perfect spot was found on the Sea of Tranquillity: well-lit, dead flat and clear of obstacles.
So how did everyone miss the huge boulders and crater the size of a football field?
They hadn’t. Even before the final approach, Armstrong had noticed they were shooting past landmarks earlier than expected. For some reason, the LM was travelling faster than anticipated, and had overshot the planned landing site. But the on-board computer was doggedly sticking to the original flight-path.
Realising that disaster loomed, Armstrong took over the controls, and began a desperate search for a clear site.
After several anxious minutes, with computer alarms flashing and barely any fuel left, Armstrong found a spot, pulled off a perfect landing – and the rest is history.
But Nasa’s mission controllers knew tragedy had only narrowly been averted, and set up an urgent inquiry. With Apollo 12 scheduled to launch just a few months later, they had to discover what they’d missed.
The culprits were two subtle but potentially deadly effects no-one had thought of.
The first was the result of the LM detaching from the mother ship to make its descent. As they separated, air seeped out from the tunnel that had connected them. This gave the LM a light push – and nudged it off the expected trajectory.
The second culprit was lying hidden beneath the moon’s surface.
The year before the Apollo11 mission, astronomers found evidence of colossal chunks of rock buried deep in the Moon. Known as mascons – for “mass concentrations”, their origin was unknown. But their huge mass distorted the gravitational field of the Moon –and pulled the LM dangerously off-track.
By the time Apollo 12 headed to the Moon, Nasa’s engineers had found solutions so effective the LM landed just metres from its target.
But the fact remained that they had tried to think of everything that could possibly go wrong – and had failed.
The reason Apollo 11succeeded was because Armstrong realised something was wrong, and seized control from the computer.
And that was only possible because the engineers had a backstop for their lack of omniscience. They never felt comfortable giving computers total control of the descent, so they gave the astronauts the option to take over at any time.
Armstrong proved the wisdom of that – so much so that later missions made it even easier for the astronauts to seize control.
Yet half a century later, engineers seem to have fallen under the spell of computer power.
Just last week, car-makers General Motors and Honda announced plans to work together on a vehicle with so-called Level 5 autonomy. That is, humans do nothing apart from get in and give the destination. There’s no steering wheel, pedals or gear-stick.
We can only speculate what Armstrong – an engineer himself, as well as test-pilot turned astronaut – would have made of such confidence in computers.
Still, perhaps the creators of such cars truly believe they can do better than America’s finest did on Apollo, and really can think of everything.
Robert Matthews is Visiting Professor of Science at Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Mobile phone packages comparison
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
