Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Apollo astronauts navigated from Earth orbit to the Moon and back in part by taking star sightings. The Command Module contained a sextant and a scanning telescope for this purpose. Sightings taken by the astronauts with these devices were translated into data that was processed by the on-board digital computer.

This sextant, made by the Kollsman Instrument Company, may have flown on Apollo 4, an unmanned test flight.

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
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Guidance & Control Manufacturer Kollsman Instrument Company
Dimensions 3-D: 21 x 10.2 x 10.8cm (8 1/4 x 4 x 4 1/4 in.)
Materials Rubber, aluminum, stainless steel, glass, paint, ink
Inventory Number A19720307000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.