Object Details
- Manufacturer
- North American Rockwell
- Summary
- 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 artifact was transferred from NASA to the Smithsonian in 1973.
- Alternate Name
- Apollo 11 Flotation Bag
- Credit Line
- Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, through Rockwell International.
- Inventory Number
- A19740500000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components
- Materials
- Rubberized fabric
- Dimensions
- Overall: 3 ft. 8 in. diameter (111.76cm)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- Location
- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
- Exhibit Station
- Human Spaceflight
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19740500000
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv90741926a-4788-4abb-bc8f-0ef9ebb2d249
