Space Holiday 2014: Photo 153 / 249
Previous Index Next
The Saturn V carried an independent guidance system for the ascent stage in the ring-shaped Instrument Unit (IU) standing on the floor here; this design proved critical when Apollo 12 was hit by lightning that knocked out all command module systems (but not the IU). For some reason, the unit shown here is a replica while the Udvar-Hazy center in Washington has an original; why isn't that one here?!?

The Saturn V carried an independent guidance system for the ascent stage in the ring-shaped Instrument Unit (IU) standing on the floor here; this design proved critical when Apollo 12 was hit by lightning that knocked out all command module systems (but not the IU). For some reason, the unit shown here is a replica while the Udvar-Hazy center in Washington has an original; why isn't that one here?!?