This is the vernier rocket motor for the Surveyor unmanned lunar landing probe, America's first spacecraft to land on the Moon. The vernier engine was small but of critical importance to provide propulsion for trajectory correction maneuvers, attitude and velocity control before and during landing. The vernier had to be reliable and with restart capability.
The propellants were hypergolic (self-igniting), and the vernier produced 30-104 pounds of thrust for 4.8 minutes. The vernier was swivel-mounted for roll control of the spacecraft. The Reaction Motors Division (RMD) of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation developed the vernier, first used operationally on Surveyor 1, which soft-landed on the Moon on June 1, 1966. Five of seven Surveyors launched successfully landed on the Moon up to 1968. Photos and other data gathered greatly contributed to the later Apollo manned lunar program.
This NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory transferred this vernier engine to the Smithsonian Institution in 1979.
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
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Manufacturer
Reaction Motors Div., Thiokol Chemical Corp.
Dimensions
Overall: 13 1/4 in. long x 5 1/4 in. diameter (33.66 x 13.34cm)
Materials
Stainless steel; gold coating over plumbing
Inventory Number
A19790173000
Credit Line
Transferred from the NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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