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The Mercury space capsule carried this device, designed by the Honeywell Corporation, which allowed the astronaut to see his orbital track and heading. For example, it indicated when the spacecraft was passing over a ground station or a landing site. The device was a simple globe, driven by a clockwork mechanism. Once in a stable orbit, the astronaut would wind up the clockwork, and set the position of a tiny scale model of the Mercury capsule, under which the globe would rotate.

This specimen was flown aboard MA-4, an unmanned Mercury flight that preceeded the manned flights.

Transferred from NASA to the Museum in 1972.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date 1961 Country of Origin United States of America Type INSTRUMENTS-Flight Management Manufacturer Honeywell Co.
 Dimensions 3-D: 12.7 x 22.9 x 12.7cm (5 x 9 x 5 in.)
 Materials Aluminum case, with interior parts of plastic and other materials.
 Inventory Number A19721170000 Credit Line Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Open Access (CCO)
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.