How 3 Hackers built a $3 trillion empire

Summary

The script narrates the Apollo 15 mission, where Commander David Scott validated Galileo's theory on the moon's vacuum. It then shifts to John Draper, a phone phreaker, who exploited a 2600 Hz whistle to hack the telephone system, leading to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's blue box venture. The narrative also touches on the Apollo 15 scandal involving lunar postal covers and the impact of early digital pioneers on the tech industry.

Takeaways

• 🌕 Apollo 15's Commander David Scott conducted a gravity experiment with a feather and a hammer on the Moon, demonstrating Galileo's theory that objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum.
• 📞 John Draper, known as a 'phone phreaker,' used a plastic whistle to generate a 2600 Hz tone to manipulate the telephone network and avoid long-distance charges, a practice considered hacking in the 1970s.
• 📱 The term 'phreaking' originated in the 1960s and became more sophisticated with the advent of personal computers, leading to methods like war dialing to hack into computer systems.
• 💡 John Draper and Steve Jobs collaborated to create and sell 'blue boxes,' devices that exploited the telephone network's frequencies to enable free long-distance calls.
• 🔹 The blue box venture was highly profitable but also highly illegal, leading to legal troubles for John Draper and shaping the early days of digital exploration and hacking.
• 🚀 Apollo 15 crew members were involved in a scandal for smuggling and selling US Postal covers that were purportedly touched by the lunar surface, leading to a NASA scandal and Congressional hearings.
• 💼 Herman Seager sold US Postal covers at a high premium, claiming they had been to the Moon, which raised suspicions and led to an investigation by NASA.
• 📈 The Apollo 15 scandal resulted in the astronauts being banned from future space travel and having to return the money they were paid, but years later, they sued NASA for the return of the postal covers.
• 📊 The value of the Apollo 15 postal covers has significantly increased over time, with some selling for as much as $50,000 a piece.
• 🚨 An emergency broadcast system test in the 1970s led to a false alarm, causing nationwide panic and highlighting the importance of accurate communication during emergencies.
• 🌐 The script illustrates the intersection of technology, innovation, and legality, showing how early pioneers in digital exploration pushed boundaries and influenced the development of the tech industry.

Q & A

What significant event involving Commander David Scott took place in July 1971?

Commander David Scott landed with Apollo 15 on the surface of the Moon and conducted the first expedition using a lunar rover.

Why did David Scott decide to test a theory on the Moon, and what was the theory?

Scott tested Galileo's theory that, in the absence of air resistance, objects of different weights fall at the same rate. He conducted this test because the Moon has no air resistance, creating a vacuum environment.

What unusual item did John Draper use to hack the phone system in the 1970s?

John Draper used a plastic whistle found in a box of Cap'n Crunch cereal, which emitted a sound at 2600 Hz, the frequency needed to manipulate the phone system.

What is 'freaking' and why was it significant in the 1970s?

Freaking is the practice of hacking telephone systems to make free long-distance calls. It was significant because it laid the groundwork for modern hacking and computer security techniques.

How did the blue boxes created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs work?

The blue boxes emitted a 2600 Hz signal to trick the phone system into thinking the user had hung up, allowing them to enter a number for a free long-distance call.

What were the consequences for the Apollo 15 crew members involved in carrying postal covers to the Moon?

The Apollo 15 crew members were banned from future space travel and had to return the $7,000 they were paid, along with the 300 postal covers they had carried.

What was the outcome of Al Warden's lawsuit against NASA in 1983?

NASA agreed to return the postal covers to the Apollo 15 crew members, which later sold for as much as $50,000 each.

How did the emergency broadcast alert impact the nation in the 1970s?

The emergency broadcast alert caused radio stations across America to shut down their regular programs and wait for further instructions, creating widespread confusion and concern.

What did Steve Jobs later say about the importance of the blue boxes to Apple's history?

Steve Jobs said that if they hadn't made the blue boxes, there would have been no Apple, highlighting the significance of their early hacking endeavors.

What legal issues did John Draper face due to his phone hacking activities?

John Draper served two prison sentences for phone fraud in 1976 and 1978. Despite later working with IBM and starting his own software company, his legal battles followed him throughout his life.