Flotation Bag, Apollo 11

When an Apollo command module landed in the ocean, it could settle into one of two stable positions: nose-up or nose-down. If it was nose-down, its recovery antennas would be underwater, and it increased the possibility that the spacecraft might flood. To turn the command module upright, three floatable bags were installed in a forward compartment. Astronauts could right the spacecraft by inflating the bags using two air compressors located in the aft (blunt) end of the spacecraft, which were connected to the bags with tubing.

This is one of three flotation bags used on Apollo 11 at the end of its historic lunar landing mission on July 24, 1969. The astronauts deployed it after the command module settled nose down, enabling the spacecraft to right itself about six and half minutes after splashdown.

This item was transferred from NASA to the Smithsonian in 1973.

Apollo 11 Flotation Bag