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T O P I C R E V I E WLM-12Photo S66-62984 shows Buzz Aldrin with a floating slide rule onboard Gemini 12.The Mercury astronauts had a circular "hand computer" onboard that operated much like an astronomy planisphere: The satellite hand computer, physically resembling a circular slide rule, is provided to aid the astronaut in solving navigation problems. The computer consists of three discs: a basic fixed disc, a small top fixed disc and a rotating intermediate disc. The computer is attached to the chart board for convenience and accessibility. The computer may be used to find orbital tangential velocity, orbital angle, drift, through ground speed, indicated ground speed and for multiplication, division and proportions. Figure 12-4 (pdf page 362) in the Project Mercury Familiarization Manual shows a diagram of the hand computer. Some sample calculations are also shown.Jim BehlingDon't understand the point of this thread. It points out a slide rule in a Gemini pic and then makes a statement about a Mercury computer.Chariot412Looks similar to a standard issue E-6B computer given to military pilots through the decades.LM-12There is a photo of the hand computer that John Glenn used onboard Friendship 7 on the osu.edu website.MarylandSpaceThe link to Project Mercury Familiarization Manual is awesome!
The Mercury astronauts had a circular "hand computer" onboard that operated much like an astronomy planisphere:
The satellite hand computer, physically resembling a circular slide rule, is provided to aid the astronaut in solving navigation problems. The computer consists of three discs: a basic fixed disc, a small top fixed disc and a rotating intermediate disc. The computer is attached to the chart board for convenience and accessibility. The computer may be used to find orbital tangential velocity, orbital angle, drift, through ground speed, indicated ground speed and for multiplication, division and proportions.
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