Today in Tech History – Jan. 27, 2014

In 1948 – IBM dedicated its “SSEC” in New York City. The Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator handled both data and instructions using electronic circuits made with 13,500 vacuum tubes and 21,000 relays.

In 1967 – The first US astronauts died in the line of duty. Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee were killed on the launch pad when a flash fire engulfed their command module during testing for the first Apollo-Saturn mission.

In 2006 – Western Union discontinued its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. The company still handles money transfers.

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Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.