During the Apollo mission, the computer software had to be physically woven into storage. Metal wires were threaded through tiny doughnut-shaped rings, or “cores.” If the wire went through the core, it represented a 1; if the wire went outside the core, it represented a 0. Executing this tedious task were thousands of women with weaving expertise, passing needles back and forth on panels to hand-weave each core memory rope.

Despite their contributions, little is known about these women. They performed hours of manual labor with little to no recognition. If they were mentioned, their work was often presented as requiring no skill or thinking because it was seen as feminine in nature. In reality, their expertise was integral to the success of the Apollo missions. The software relied heavily on their weavings, and without them, mission success would have been uncertain.

In this activity, students will pay tribute to these women by replicating their intricate process to create core memory keychains.

This activity was done by first-year college students. They used their three-letter initials and their dorm room numbers for their keychains.

Materials:

• 12 colorful beads
• Four different color strings
• One keychain ring
• Two clear beads
• One note card

Steps:

1. Translate initials and room numbers into binary code.
2. Fold four strings around the keychain ring, tying them evenly.
3. Designate "magnetic core" strings, add beads, and tie a clear bead.
4. Use eight beads for initials and four beads for room numbers.
5. Thread the remaining strings based on binary patterns for each letter.
6. Weave all three strings through the clear bead, tie, and secure with hot glue.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for the other side using room numbers. Your completed keychain will have two tassels.
8. Document the code on the note card. (Ex: Core = Black, First letter = Yellow, etc.)