Apollo Artifacts

Apollo Command Module Main Control Panel 2F

This CM Panel 2F controls the Cryogenics and Environmental System controls and is positioned in front of the CM pilot and LM pilot.

The panel contains cryogenic tank indicators, cabin fan switches, H2 and O2 heaters, O2 pressure, H2 and O2 fans, cabin temperature, and much more.

This panel is block I, but shares many similarities with the Block II version.

I particularly like this because it is known to many people due to Apollo 13. The "stir the tank" switch and "are we dead yet due to CO2" readout are on this panel. Even people who are not space collectors get excited about this because it is familiar from the Apollo 13 movie, so it is be fun to show to people and point out the bits from the film.

This panel is in great condition. It is clearly flight quality as all the switches and displays are definitely the real thing.

The size is approximately 18" x 16" x 20 pounds. The item is encased in oak with a handle and acrylic backing so it will stand up for display and I can carry it.

Apollo 17 Command Module Flown CSM Malfunction Procedures Book

From the Personal Collection Mission Commander Gene Cernan this 8.5" x 10.5" book of approximately 140 pages separated by tabs bound in stiff covers with three binder rings.

The tabs include (in order) G&C, SCS, G&N, SPS, RCS, CRYO, FUEL CELL, PW, T/C, ECS, EMS, DOCK & HATCH, EVA, CAMERA, and REAL TIME CHECKLIST.

The Part Number is "SKB32100123-341" and the Serial Number is "1001". This is essentially a troubleshooting guide for anything that might have gone wrong with the command module and thus was a critical and important reference on board the flight.

Apollo 13 flown launch abort cue card

This cue card was from the personal collection of Fred W. Haise, Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot.

The information that Haise supplied about the card reads:
"This cue card was carried around the moon on the flight of Apollo 13 during April 11 to 17, 1971. This card was positioned on the instrument panel with Velcro during the launch to be used in the event of a Mode III abort. This abort mode became available in the period of launch just before achieving the Abort-to-Orbit capability. On the cards are blanks to be filled in for a manually executed SPS retrograde maneuver such as Time Of Ignition (TIG), Burn Time (BT), Pitch attitude, Ground Elapsed Time (GET) to reach 300k feet altitude, Pitch attitude reaching .05G, and the time for Drogue parachute deployment. The burn was to change velocity by 6999.9 feet per second to assure an Atlantic splashdown short of the African continent. We did not have to use this card but did have to deal with a much more complicated abort case on Apollo 13."

Lunar Module cockpit panel 8

LM Panel 8 - located on the commander's left - had switches responsible for activating so many important functions including deploying the landing gear, separating the Ascent and Descent stages, enabling the descent to and ascent from the Moon and contact between the astronauts & command module and earth. The TV jack was also located on panel 8.

This particular panel appears to be of an early design, indicating it was possibly a training panel.

The panel overlays appears to be silk-screened sheet metal. The flight panels had mostly electroluminescent panels. Much of the wiring looks like flight type wires were used, although there would be potting at the contacts for a flight, or serious test, panel.

Thank you to John Fongheiser,
President,
Historic Space Systems for help in identifying this artifact.

Apollo Operations Handbook / Lunar Module for LM-5 (Apollo 11)

This is basically the owners' manual for Lunar Module Eagle.

This original and complete Apollo Operations Handbook / Lunar Module for LM-5 Apollo 11 is 1,000 pages or more and weighs 7 pounds.

It is in great condition and seemingly never used. The three-ring binder seems original and includes a LM-5 sticker. The date stamp on the first page is really cool (June 27, 1969 - less than a month before launch). The manual contains many dozens of fold out schematics and other documentation.

Apollo Spacecraft News Reference for Lunar Module and Command Module

These Apollo News Reference Manuals were used by journalists who covered the Apollo program. It took me four years to acquire a pair as these manuals have become highly sought after. The pair include almost 500 pages of in depth detail about the Apollo spacecraft in the words of the contractors who built them.

Chapters include: Crew Systems, Displays and Controls, Docking, Earth Landing, Electrical Power, Environmental Control, Launch Escape, Reaction Control, Service Propulsion, Stabilization & Control, Telecommunications, Guidance & Navigation, Space Suit, Automatic Checkout Equipment, Kennedy Space Center Operations, Training Equipment, Test & Reliability, Manufacturing, Launch Vehicles, Mission Description, Crew Personal Equipment, Propulsion, Electrical Power, Lighting, PLSS, LM Anatomy, Biographies and more.

Grumman Lunar Module contractors model

Model BEFORE (see below for after)

I purchased a beat up Grumman LM contractors model on eBay. Fortunately, the Andy Lagomarsino agreed to work on the model and ring it up to pristine condition. He is does amazing work.

More on what Andy does here.

When I sent him the model, Andy noted that it needed:

A good cleaning

The base needed to be polished up

Ascent stage is missing one of the two vhf wire coil antennas.

Missing about half of the 16 RCS jets.

Missing both the S-band and rendevous radar dishes.

The flag decal on the descent stage was badly deteriorated.

All of the color on the navigation lights appears faded and will needed to be retouched.

Numerous areas on the black shaded portions of the descent stage needed to be recolored

The legs were bent

(Shall I go on?)

Now it looks terrific. (Thanks Andy.)

Apollo CSM Cryogenic ground umbilical coupler

This coupler was used for supplying liquid Oxygen to the Apollo Fuel Cell storage tanks. Subcontracted by North American Aviation (builder of the CSM) to Fairchild Hiller Corporation under NASA Contract NAS9-150 (CSM).

Cryogenic Hydrogen and Oxygen comprised the constituent reactants used by the onboard Fuel cells to provide power, drinking water and heating. The Oxygen tanks also supplied metabolic breathing oxygen to the crew.

Apollo Service Module RCS Helium Pressurization Solenoid Valve

Helium is supplied to the Reaction Control System propellant with the helium pressure used drive the propellant out of the bladders at the proper feed rate to the R-4D reaction control engines in the quads.

The helium isolation valves between the helium tank and pressure regulators contain two solenoids: one solenoid is energized momentarily to unlatch the valve, and spring pressure and helium pressure forces the valve closed. The helium isolation valves in each quad are individually controlled by their own individual SM RCS Helium switch on Command Module panel MDC-2.

The momentary OPEN position energizes the valve into the magnetic latch (open). The momentary CLOSE position energizes the valve to unlatch the magnetic latch (closed). The center position removes electrical power from either solenoid. The valves are normally open in respect to system pressure substantiating the magnetic latching feature for power conservation purposes during the mission in addition to prevent overheating of the valve coil.

Thanks to Scott Schneeweis for the technical description of this interesting artifact.

Accessory Products Company
Solenoid Valve, Helium
part # 512000-0014
serial # 100200000059
control # ME 284-0336-0014
contract # NAS 9-150

Gene Cernan's Apollo 17 lunar surface flown APK

This beta cloth Astronaut Preference Kit belonged to Apollo 17 Commander Gene Cernan "the last man on the moon" and was flown to the lunar surface. The APK was carried to lunar orbit in December 1972 aboard the Command Module America and was then transferred to the Lunar Module Challenger for the descent to the moon.

This bag remained on the moon inside the LM for more than three days, the longest stay of any lunar mission. After docking with the command module in lunar orbit after lunar surface operations, the APK was transferred back into America for the return trip to Earth. In total, this APK spent more than twelve and a half days in space, and a record of more than six days in lunar orbit or on the surface. It traveled a remarkable 1.3 million miles during the mission.

The Apollo 17 lunar landing site was the Taurus-Littrow highlands and valley area. This site was picked as a location where rocks both older and younger than those previously returned from other Apollo missions. Apollo 17 was the final in a series of three J-type missions planned for the Apollo program. These J-type missions can be distinguished from previous G and H-series missions by extended hardware capability, larger scientific payload capacity and by the use of the battery powered Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).

APKs were permitted by NASA to contain items for the astronauts' personal use, or for use by them as personal gifts. APKs carried on board the Lunar Module were limited to just one half pound per astronaut.

The APK, marked "SEC 12100087-301 S/N 1007 ASTRONAUT KIT," appears in the Apollo Storage List for mission J-3, CM 114, LM-12 dated 12-12-72. The bag is approximately 4" x 8" x 1.5" with a drawstring top and original red wax seal. It has been cut open around the back near the top.

Also included in the collection is the original NASA Astronaut Preference Kit Release Form for this APK. The form (click the photo to see a larger image), signed by Gene Cernan and Tom Stafford, acknowledges receipt of the Astronaut Preference Kit from Command Module 114. Dated December 21, 1972 (two days after the return of Apollo 17), this official form shows all of the steps necessary for the transfer of the APK from NASA to Captain Cernan after the flight. At the time, Tom Stafford was Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at the NASA Manned Spaceflight Center and was responsible for assisting the director in planning and implementation of programs for the astronaut group.

Apollo 17 was the first mission to be under scrutiny after the discovery of a stash of unauthorized postal covers that were flown on Apollo 15 and subsequently sold. Apollo 16 had already flown by the time of the Apollo 15 discovery. The Astronaut Preference Kit Policy permitted Apollo flight crew to carry certain items of a personal nature on each manned spacecraft flight and the items must have been carried in an approved Astronaut Preference Kit. The articles carried in the APK are for the astronauts' personal use, or for use by them as personal gifts.

When I asked him, Captain Cernan said that he didn't recall why he cut the bag open in the back. However he thought that he wanted to preserve the red wax seal. 

He told me that he recalled carrying his wedding ring, his mother’s rosary, and some photos of his family in the APK. He said that in total there were only about a dozen items flown to the lunar surface in his APK.

Apollo Lunar Module support truss

This is a support truss from the lunar module.

It is amazingly light. It must be close to (or even less than) one pound, but I don't have a scale that is that small. Comparing my body weight with and without the truss is negligible.

The truss is 21 inches long and 1 3/8 inches diameter. There is a very bold and clear stamp in red ink on both sides with part # LDW280-18847-19 A3.

Each end fitting is attached with 12 pieces of tiny hardware which are each sealed with a sealer. Curiously, it seems that each of the (24 total) hardware items are each individually stamped with a red inspector stamp (#621) and each of the main truss part number stamps is folowed by another inspector stamp #1459. The truss ends that are into the tubing are also cleanly sealed with some type of composite sealer.

Apollo Lunar Module MESA locking and deployment mechanism

This fascinating artifact is a locking and deployment mechanism for the Modular Equipment Storage Assembly (MESA) located in quad 4 of the Lunar Module decent stage. The MESA lowered like a drawbridge once the astronauts activated this mechanism upon exiting the LM.

In the G-Series mission (Apollo 11) and H-Series missions (Apollos 12, 13, & 14) the MESA was packed with equipment needed to explore and study the lunar surface (cameras, film magazines, geology equipment, sample return containers, and tools).  Later on the J-Series missions (Apollos 15-17) it also carried some parts of the Lunar Roving Vehicle, as well as spare supplies for extended lunar stay time by the LM crew (LiOH cans, PLSS batteries, etc.).

The MESA was deployed via the astronaut pulling the MESA deployment actuating handle "D handle" located on the egress platform "porch" of the lunar module.  As the cable pulled the cam, it disengaged a lock pin from a pivot arm. A "key" prevented the lock pin from interfering with its on disengagement from a locking post on the MESA as it slid into a slot.  Once this was done, lunar gravity took over and deployed the MESA downward into position. Once deployed, the MESA served as a work station for the astronauts.   

I acquired this artifact from someone who was affiliated with Grumman (manufacturer of the Lunar Module).  It is approx 10 inches long and 6 inches wide, made (almost) from one solid piece (titanium?) with an amazing assortment of angles and undercuts, a channel for the sliding part, and "ear" extensions that are almost paper thin.

The markings are a bit difficult to read but appear to be:
LDW 280M17816  ZOA6  MRR106498  LOT 3

Apollo Saturn S-IVB (third stage) liquid hydrogen vent and relief valve

This Apollo Saturn S-IVB (third stage) Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) dual function tank Vent and Relief Valve was manufactured by Wallace O. Leonard Inc. under subcontract to Douglas Corporation (prime for the S-IVB). The valve was produced in 1966.

The LH2 Vent-Relief valve, used as part of the single Rocketdyne J-2 engine system which powered the stage, was situated at the top/forward portion of the S-IVB LH2 tank. It was commanded via the Pneumatic Control System (helium gas driven). The Vent-Relief valve opened during ground fill/drain of the propellants and closed prior to pressurization. Additionally, the valve enabled venting while in flight if either of the tanks experienced overpressurization. The Vent-Relief valve output was applied to a nonpropulsive vent system (expelled gas was routed to two ducts positioned at 180 degrees on either side of the stage resulting in total thrust cancellation).

When in flight, the LH2 Vent-Relief valve also fed the continuous vent system used to provide a thrust force required to position propellants at the aft end of each tank during coast. The system consisted of a vent line originating at the LH2 Vent-Relief valve, terminating at two low thrust nozzles located 180 degrees apart, and facing aft on the forward skirt. Venting was regulated by a pneumatically operated continuous propulsive vent module. The LH2 propulsive vents opened approximately 49 seconds after insertion (into circular Earth parking orbit) as well as during the pre-ignition Translunar Injection (TLI) Boost phase; and provided a sustained, low level thrust to keep the S-IVB propellant seated against the aft bulkheads of their cryogenic storage tanks. Supplemented by the APS (Auxillary Propulsion System) ullage engines, these actions were critical to inhibiting J2 propellant line cavitation upon engine restart.

The valve is 21" tall and 12.5" in diameter at the widest point. It weighs 45 pounds.

Thanks to Scott Schneeweis for the technical description of this artifact.

Rope memory module for the Model 100 Apollo Guidance and Navigation Computer

This is a rare rope memory module made for the Block I (before the Apollo 1 fire) Model 100 Apollo Guidance and Navigation Computer.  The computers that formed the basis of the Apollo Guidance and Navigation System (AGNS) were at the cutting edge of technology in the 1960s. They were the first to use the integrated circuit technology that subsequently gave us desktop computers and so many of the consumer electronic products that fill our lives today.

Each computer had two types of memory, erasable and fixed. The fixed memory contained the programs, constants and landmark coordinates using 36,864 terms or words, each of 15 bits length. That came to a grand total of 74 kilobytes of memory.

The fixed memory was made from coincident-current ferrite cores woven into a rope with copper wires and sealed in plastic. Software components were encoded into a core according to the "pattern" of its weave. Each core functioned as a small transformer, with up to 64 wires connected to each core. If a wire passed through a particular core, a "1" would be read. If a particular wire bypassed the core, a "0" would be read. If you wanted to change the software contained in fixed memory, you had to rewire the sealed core to change the bits. The erasable memory was made from similar materials but with a different design. Each core in the erasable memory could be changed using magnets. Turning clockwise to indicate a "1" or anti-clockwise indicating a "0".

The module is labeled: C P ASSY 1031103 NO.  1003733-011, MFG BY RAYTHEON CO., SERIAL NO. RAY 4

Thanks to Jim Loocke for the technical description of this artifact.

Brass Flashlight Designed for NASA Apollo Missions

This flashlight was made by ACR for NASA. ACR contracted out the flashlights to Fulton Industries in Wauseon Ohio. It is stamped ACR FA- 5 Serial No. 3016 Date of Mfg. 8-72. This flashlight has no known history of being on an Apollo mission. It still works brilliantly.

Launch Mission Rules for Apollo 11

This is rare original NASA manual contains the full mission rules for Apollo 11 (SA-506/CSM-107/LM-5). It is marked FOR NASA/DOD INTERNAL USE ONLY (INCLUDING APPROPRIATE CONTRACTORS). This copy was issued to Grumman (manufacturer of the LEM) and has a Grumman cover.

It is really fun to page through this is a massive 4 lb, 2 inch thick volume. Each page is dated as of update status and almost all are dated either June 2, 1969; June 20, 1969; or June 26, 1969. In addition to the very complete and specific itemized Mission Launch Rules, it details communication, aborts, redlines, crew equip and most systems and operations; extensive CSM 107 and  LM-5 sections; charts & ids of  individual switches, tanks, electrical items, and operation, environmental control, propulsion, crew duties, and activities and operational procedures.

Apollo 9 heat shield plug Lucite display

This is a circular chunk of the heat shield from Apollo 9. Heat shields were manufactured by AVCO Corporation, with integration by NAA (North American Aviation), and are comprised of an extremely lightweight fiberglass honeycomb which is hand filled by air gun with the ablative resin material. The ablative system dissipates heat as the material melts and chars during re-entry, mitigating the 20,000 degree heat experienced by the CSM as it transits through the extreme thermo-dynamic phase of the re-entry corridor.

LRL Moon Rock Secondary Sample Containers

The secondary sample storage container, used in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory allowed for easy division of samples within vacuum cabinets and had high, large threads to hold a vacuum seal in case of emergency.

Contractor press kits relating to the Apollo 11 mission

 

I've worked in marketing and PR my entire career and am fascinated by the press kits put out by NASA and by the contractors. I was fortunate to have acquired a set of complete press kits used by a journalist while covering the Apollo 11 mission. Included are press kits from IBM (Computer systems), North American Rockwell (Command Module), Grumman (Lunar Module), TRW (Engines), and several other kits not pictured here.

Lunar sample 1" scale cube

This is an exact replica 1" scale cube to those that are used to show size and orientation of lunar samples at the Lunar Receiving Lab. These scale cubes are made of machined, anodized aluminum, with engraved markings filled with baked enamel.

Kennedy Space Center access badges for the Apollo 16 mission

A collection of twelve badges that were previously owned by a 34-year KSC security guard. These badges were used as prototypes and for identification purposes. Several are astronaut badges.

Apollo spacecraft accessories bag

Bags of this type were used by astronauts to store items in the Command Module and Lunar Module. While  bags of this type flew on most Apollo missions, unfortunately the Apollo Stowage Lists did not record the serial numbers of the bags that flew to the moon.

This accessories bag was manufactured by Welson & Co. on February 5, 1971. It is part number SEB 13100114-701, serial number 1257

Lunar Module Descent Stage Rocket Engine Thrust Chamber

This model of thrust chamber was developed for the Apollo Lunar Module decent stage and made 10 flights during the Apollo program. The engine type became famous again in the 1995 with the release of the movie "Apollo 13" as the engine that powered the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft from the moon back to earth because the Service Propulsion System was never used subsequent to the cryotank stir/explosion. Because the extent of damage to the SPS was unknown, there was great concern at the time that collateral damage could have caused a catastrophic malfunction (if the engine was fired). Instead the LMDE was used for the return burn and subsequent course correction. Quite a famous engine.

Of course, this is not that exact engine as it burned up in the earth's atmosphere after being jettisoned when the Apollo 13 crew returned to earth in the Command Module.

Flown engines, of course, are either left on the surface of the moon (Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17), crashed into the moon (Apollo 10), or burned up in earth’s atmosphere (Apollo 5, 9, 13).

The combustion chamber consists of an ablative-lined titanium alloy case to the 16:1 area ratio. Fabrication of the 6A1-4V alloy titanium case was accomplished by machining the chamber portion and the exit cone portion from forgings and welding them into one unit at the throat centerline. The ablative liner is fabricated in two segments and installed from either end. The shape of the nozzle extension (not installed on the example in this collection) is such that the ablative liner is retained in the exit cone during transportation, launch and boost. During engine firing, thrust loads force the exit cone liner against the case. The titanium head end assembly which contains the Pintle Injector and propellant valve subcomponents is attached with thirty-six A-286 steel ¼ inch bolts.

In order to keep the maximum operating temperatures of the titanium case in the vicinity of 800 degrees (F), the ablative liner was designed as a composite material providing the maximum heat sink and minimum weight. The selected configuration consisted of a high density, erosion-resistant silica cloth/phenolic material surrounded by a lightweight needle-felted silica mat/phenolic insulation.

The Pintle Injector, unique to TRW designed liquid propulsion systems, provides improved reliability and less costly method of fuel oxidizer impingement in the thrust chamber then conventional coaxial distributed-element injectors typically used on liquid biproellant rocket engines.

Dry mass: 300 pounds (with Columbian Nozzle Extension Installed)
Length: 51 inches - Gimbal attachment to nozzle tip (minus nozzle extension)
Maximum diameter: 34 inches (minus nozzle extension)
Mounting: gimbal attachment above injector
Engine cycle: pressure fed (15.5 atm reservoir)
Oxidizer: 50/50 N_2O_4/UDMH at 8.92 kg/s
Fuel: monomethyl hydrazine at 5.62 kg/s
O/F ratio: 1.60
Thrust: 42.923 kN vac
Specific impulse: 303 s vacuum
Expansion ratio: 16:1, 43:1 (with Expansion Nozzle)
Cooling method: quartz phenolic chamber ablation and columbium (niobium) nozzle radiation
Chamber pressure: 7.1 atm
Ignition: hypergolic, started by 28 V electrical signal to on/off solenoid valves
Burn time: 500 s for total of 5 starts; 10 350 s single burn

Thanks to Scott Schneeweis for the technical description of this artifact.

Weekend with Apollo astronauts and a shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center

This past weekend I attended the Sims & Hankow event at the Kennedy Space Center and also had a chance to see the launch of STS-117 (Space Shuttle Atlantis). What a cool weekend to meet and chat with Apollo astronauts, mission control specialists, and others from the original American space programs.

I saw the launch (7:38PM) from the causeway. This photo is with a cheap digital camera with very little zoom applied. It is basically how I saw the launch.

About an hour later, the contrails mixing with the sunset created a terrific image behind the KSC rocket garden. I’ve never seen anything quite like those white swirling contrails against a blue black sky.

The dinner on Saturday night was terrific. The Saturn V center at KSC was an ideal venue. Ran into real and virtual friends including Larry, Noah, Jason, Mike & Miranda, Robert, Steve, Mark, and others.

I was lucky to sit at Gene Cernan’s table and enjoyed his stories of landing on the moon and his thoughts at being “the Last Man on the Moon.”

Flown Altimeter Plug from Apollo 12

The Altimeter in the Apollo CM (panel 1) was operational below 50,000 feet. Therefore it was only used by the crew during the early stages of initial powered ascent and then again at the very end of the mission. For the rest of the mission the altimeter was typically covered by an aluminum stopper.

This stopper was flown to the moon on the Apollo 12 mission. It was acquired from the personal collection of Apollo 12 Command Module Pilot Dick Gordon.

The accelerometer (G-force meter) was also only used in the early and late parts of the mission and had a similar, but slightly smaller, stopper.

Apollo CSM Guidance Computer Compensation Module

This module is a component of the Apollo CSM guidance computer and manufactured by AC Electronics. Anyone know more details about what this component did?

Moon Rock Container from the Lunar Receiving Laboratory

This lunar material container was used during the Apollo Era to transport and store moon rocks from the Lunar Receiving Laboratory. It is amazingly engineered, stainless steel vessel with bolts to secure the lunar sample to prevent contamination.

The accompanying tag, which was sealed in the bag that this container came in, indicates that it was cleaned in 1971 indicating that at one time it contained rocks from Apollo 11 and / or Apollo 12.

The Bolt-Top Container (BTC) was the primary storage and transport device used for lunar material. The BTC held a vacuum of pure nitrogen gas, which is inert and does not react with the lunar material inside.

This BTC was received by me in it's original double sealed vacuum bag. This is the first time this BTC has seen the day of light in over 35 years. The last person to handle this artifact was a lunar scientist in the LRL. These artifacts were sterilized after use and vacuum sealed for future use. Rigorous procedures were used to sterilize BTCs before being transfered into various cabinets in the LRL. The surface of the BTC was sprayed with peracetic acid in the R-102 (LRL atmospheric decontamination) cabinet . After 30 minutes of soak-time, the acid was removed by sterile water spray, then dried. This process provided biocidal sterilization without heat, as heat would alter the lunar material.

Thanks to Mike Bandli for the technical description of this artifact

Apollo 11 Parkway Viewing Site Vehicle Permit

Were you there? Alas, I was not.

Alan Bean sketch

Here is a fun little sketch of the CSM by artist and moonwalker Alan Bean (Apollo 12). I'll probably frame it, but I can't decide if I should include something else in the frame such as a mission photo.

Apollo CSM "Cobra Head" communications control assembly

This beautifully crafted communications control assembly was used for routing communications, biomedical signals, and warning tones. The control head, often referred to as a "Cobra Head" by the astronauts, allowed the astronaut to speak to crewmates over the intercom (I'COM) or to Houston (XMIT).  This example contains NASA stamps identification part numbers V56-715100-21 0632 and the serial number AAJ9360.

The photo of Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan (left) and Ron Evans provide a fine example of what this artifact would have looked like in flight.

Thanks to John Fongheiser of Historic Space Systems the technical description of this artifact.