This is the longer of two styles of tongs used by Apollo astronauts on the lunar surface. These long tongs were designed to be carried in the tool carrier mounted on the Lunar Roving Vehicle (on the earlier missions shorter tongs were attached to fasteners at the waist of the lunar spacesuit). The tongs were used to pick up individual rocks smaller than 10 cm in size.

Used for training, these tongs were transferred from NASA to the Museum in 1981.

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

EQUIPMENT-Lunar

Manufacturer

NASA - Johnson Space Center

Dimensions

3-D: 80 × 10 × 12.5cm (2 ft. 7 1/2 in. × 3 15/16 in. × 4 15/16 in.)

Materials

Aluminum Alloy
Ferrous Alloy (17-4 PH Stainless Steel)
Paint
Uncharacterized Coatings
Uncharacterized Synthetic Material

Inventory Number

A19810701000

Credit Line

Transferred from NASA, Johnson Space Center.

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.