Horizon Scanner, Mercury

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Object Details

Manufacturer

Barnes Instrument Company

Summary

This device, made by the Barnes Instrument Company, was used to assist a Mercury astronaut in locating the Earth's horizon, relative to the attitude of a Mercury capsule. An accurate determination of the horizon was considered a good human backup to orient the craft for a return from orbit, in case the automatic control systems failed. This is probably an unflown specimen.

Transferred from NASA to the Museum in 1977.

Credit Line

Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inventory Number

A19770567000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

INSTRUMENTS-Navigational

Materials

Aluminum

Glass

Rubber

Plastic

Electrical Tape

Coating

Dimensions

3-D: 15.9 × 12.7 × 12.7cm, 1.2kg (6 1/4 × 5 × 5 in., 2.7lb.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv90b1fa514-08d1-43e3-b25c-9a1edb5f7763

Record ID

nasm_A19770567000