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The Saturn V Rocket, which carried astronauts to the Moon, used inertial guidance. The booster had its own inertial system, separate from the guidance systems on the Command and Lunar Modules. This was contained in an "Instrument Unit" (IU): 1 meter (3 feet) high by 6.7 meters (22 feet) in diameter, located between the third stage of the Saturn rocket and the payload.

The prime contractor for this system was the Federal Systems Division of the IBM, in cooperation with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, at Huntsville, Alabama. IBM also built the digital computer installed inside this Unit.

This is an unflown specimen that was intended for an Apollo mission that was canceled, possibly "Apollo 19."

Transferred from NASA to the Museum in 1978.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Human Spaceflight at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Human Spaceflight
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type INSTRUMENTS-Navigational Manufacturer Federal Systems Division, IBM
 Dimensions 3-D: 91.4 x 661.4cm (36 in. x 21 ft. 8 3/8 in.)
 Materials Structural ring: Aluminum. Components: metal cases with electronic parts inside.
 Alternate Name Saturn V Instrument Ring Inventory Number A19780160000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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