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  Identifying spacecraft hand controller

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Author Topic:   Identifying spacecraft hand controller
Chuckster01
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Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 06-05-2018 04:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

SpaceAholic
Member

Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-05-2018 10:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gemini attitude controller.

oly
Member

Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 06-05-2018 10:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is the Historic Space Systems animation of the Gemini Attitude Controller.

space1
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Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 06-06-2018 04:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Based on the wiring, the grip, and other features this is from a trainer.

Chuckster01
Member

Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 06-06-2018 04:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Once again, thank you for all the help. You guys are great and I will inform the owner.

Chuckster01
Member

Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 07-15-2018 01:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 07-15-2018 08:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is a small photo on this page.

Here is some additional information:

Chuckster01
Member

Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 07-22-2018 05:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 07-22-2018 09:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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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