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Forum:	Hardware & Flown Items
Topic:	Identifying spacecraft hand controller

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<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="600"><TR><td bgcolor="#000000"><TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="100%"><TR bgcolor="#660000"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER>T O P I C     R E V I E W</CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Chuckster01</TD><TD>I had a gentleman bring this hand controller into the American Space Museum. He is fairly sure it is from the Gemini program but it belonged to his father and he has no documentation. I cannot fond anything so please let me know if you have ever seen anything like this before.<center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller01-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller01.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller02-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller02.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller03-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/chuckster01/spacecraft_controller03.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a></center></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>SpaceAholic</TD><TD>Gemini attitude controller.</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>oly</TD><TD>Here is the Historic Space Systems animation of the Gemini Attitude Controller.<center><iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NDXJoIlRs14?rel=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen>

space1

Based on the wiring, the grip, and other features this is from a trainer.

Chuckster01

Once again, thank you for all the help. You guys are great and I will inform the owner.

Chuckster01

Looking for help finding an early picture of the Gemini trainer with this hand controller in the picture. If anyone has one I would appreciate a copy or scan.

oly

There is a small photo on this page.

Here is some additional information:

Chuckster01

I now have one photo of the Gemini trainer with what appears to be this hand controller but I am still looking for a better or higher resolution photo so I can confirm its origin.

oly

Does your unit look like it has any evidence that it has ever been installed or used besides the wear on the grip? Are there and wear, chafe or scratch marks at the mounting screw holes or inside the screw threads? Do the electrical connectors show any evidence of having ever been connected?

This may help identify if it was ever installed, a training aid or a surplus item.

I believe the majority of photos will show this item with an astronauts hand gripping the handle and the unit installed into a trainer or simulator, so comparison features may be difficult to identify. The wear on the grip may only be from handling, display rash or poor packing.

As can be seen here, the flight hardware grips had dual thumb push buttons and there were two differing profiles of hand grip.

The photo of a Gemini hand controller on page 9 of this document shows what looks to be an early version display.

Your photos do not show the thumb push button area of your unit, while the profile of the top of the grip looks similar to the unit in the video I posted above.

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