posted 12-12-2003 08:26 AM
I would appreciate any help in acquiring further information — and a photo or a diagram of — an Apollo Interval Timer.
It is my understanding that it was a mechanical, spring driven device (much like an egg timer) carried in the Apollo command modules for backup purposes and was kept in a stowage locker.
Where can I go to find further information?
space1 Member
Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
posted 12-24-2003 03:22 PM
Here is a photo of a two-speed mechanical timer from Apollo. The timer is on display at the Kansas Cosmosphere.
mensax Member
Posts: 861 From: Virginia Registered: Apr 2002
posted 12-25-2003 05:05 PM
Thank you so much. I've been searching every way I could think of for well over a month now to try and find out what an interval timer was and what it looked like. And just like that, there it was in my email box! Wow! Thanks!
It's a pretty cool looking piece isn't it? It doesn't look like something NASA just picked up off the hardware shelf does it?
I bought the flown interval timer knob lucite from Apollo 13 at the last Aurora auction... and now I know what I have!
hidaleeho Member
Posts: 57 From: Denver, Colorado, USA Registered: Dec 2011
posted 04-10-2016 07:24 PM
Does anyone know how many interval timers are accounted for that flew on Apollo? I have found the ones for Apollo 11 (National Air and Space Museum) and Apollo 12 (sold at auction), and the knob from Apollo 13 was mentioned here, but I was unable to find any of the others.
MadSci Member
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-11-2016 04:46 PM
Interesting. I bought the flown knob from the broken Apollo 13 Interval Timer at auction several years ago. It has the correct serial number on it according to the after flight NASA report. It also has the correct type of shaft receiver and remnants of the attachment glue.
MadSci Member
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-11-2016 05:21 PM
I wonder if its possible that the 'other' "flown Apollo 13" interval timer knob is the one from Apollo 12? The marking on mine is "P/N SEB33100092 005".
According to Heritage, and collectSPACE, the Apollo 12 Interval Timer was sold in 2014.
MadSci Member
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-11-2016 05:27 PM
Just went back through the Apollo 13 final stowage list. The Interval Timer is listed as: "Part # SEB33100092-301".
There is no separate listing for the timer knob of course.
So my "Apollo 13 timer knob" has the corresponding part number to go with the Apollo 13 stowed timer, but a different suffix. Not sure whether this makes it more or less likely that I have the correct "knob" or someone else does.
MadSci Member
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-11-2016 05:48 PM
After a quick dive into the Apollo Stowage Lists (available here) I have found the following: there is no listing for a "Timer" or "Interval" for Apollo 7 through 9, Apollo 10 through 13 the listing is P/N SEB33100092-301, Apollo 14 through 17 the listing is P/N SEB33100092-302.
According to the Apollo 13 report, the timer knob/shaft union was redesigned after Apollo 13. It would seem that the "-302" indicates the modified, or second generation timer. Thus the "005" suffix on my knob would seem to be either a sub-assembly part number, i.e. the number for a 'generic' interval timer knob, or an individual identifier, but I can't say which.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-11-2016 06:09 PM
Just to double check: Noah's (mensax) post about the Apollo 13-flown knob was made in 2003. Is it possible you bought the same one after he resold it?
quote:Originally posted by MadSci: Thus the "005" suffix on my knob...
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-11-2016 07:42 PM
Ha! I just noticed the timing of his post! I'm pretty sure you nailed it. I was tricked by the recent timing of the follow on post.
Well, if he confirms that he sold it (I think at a Heritage auction, but I'm not certain about that), we have at least all learned a bit more about Apollo Interval Timers than anyone should really need to know!
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-11-2016 10:13 PM
quote:Originally posted by MadSci: The Interval Timer is listed as: "Part # SEB33100092-301".
-301 suffix denotes the drawing number for the entire assembly. -005 pertains to a component of the assemblage (in this case the knob).
MadSci Member
Posts: 226 From: Maryland, USA Registered: Oct 2008
posted 04-13-2016 02:48 AM
Thanks for that info Scott. It completely fits with the change in the "-301" to "-302" when the knob design was changed after Apollo 13.
hidaleeho Member
Posts: 57 From: Denver, Colorado, USA Registered: Dec 2011
posted 04-13-2016 10:52 PM
You are correct, the timer was modified after the knob fell off on Apollo 13. The part number of the timer, which ended in 301 prior to Apollo 13 was to changed to 302 which represented the modification to all following timers. Modification was that instead of a set screw with lock tite used to secure the knob, a compression pin was used which eliminated the possibility of it falling off.
Anyone know where the timers are for Apollo 14-17?
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-01-2017 08:16 AM
Here's what the chime sounds like:
posted 12-12-2003 08:26 AM
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