The Apollo spacecraft contained a separate inertial guidance and navigation system that enabled its crew to navigate from Earth orbit to the Moon and back. It consisted of three principal parts. One was an inertial measurement unit (IMU), which contained gryoscopes and accelerometers that established a base position and attitude for the craft. The second was an optical unit, which allowed the astronauts to update the IMU's settings based on sightings of stars and planets. The third was a digital computer.
This artifact is part of the Command Module's IMU. It is probably unflown but othewise identical to those used on Apollo missions.
NASA transferred this object to the Museum in 2001.
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 (Controller): 10.8 × 15.2 × 24.4cm (4 1/4 × 6 × 9 5/8 in.)
3-D (Loose Screws): 1.6 × 0.8 × 0.8cm (5/8 × 5/16 × 5/16 in.)
Materials
Aluminum
Synthetic
Glass
Copper Alloy
Coating
Unknown Plating
Textile
Inventory Number
A20010305003
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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