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Author
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Topic: Mercury onboard hand computer
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-25-2015 12:31 PM
  
Photo 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 Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 07-25-2015 04:48 PM
Don'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. |
Chariot412
Member Posts: 156
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 07-25-2015 09:32 PM
Looks similar to a standard issue E-6B computer given to military pilots through the decades. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-26-2015 12:43 PM
There is a photo of the hand computer that John Glenn used onboard Friendship 7 on the osu.edu website. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-26-2015 08:12 PM
The link to Project Mercury Familiarization Manual is awesome! |
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