Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is the vernier rocket motor for the Surveyor unmanned lunar landing probe, America's first spacecraft to land on the Moon. The vernier engine was small but of critical importance to provide propulsion for trajectory correction maneuvers, attitude and velocity control before and during landing. The vernier had to be reliable and with restart capability.

The propellants were hypergolic (self-igniting), and the vernier produced 30-104 pounds of thrust for 4.8 minutes. The vernier was swivel-mounted for roll control of the spacecraft. The Reaction Motors Division (RMD) of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation developed the vernier, first used operationally on Surveyor 1, which soft-landed on the Moon on June 1, 1966. Five of seven Surveyors launched successfully landed on the Moon up to 1968. Photos and other data gathered greatly contributed to the later Apollo manned lunar program.

This NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory transferred this vernier engine to the Smithsonian Institution in 1979.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Rocket Engines Manufacturer Reaction Motors Div., Thiokol Chemical Corp.
 Dimensions Overall: 13 1/4 in. long x 5 1/4 in. diameter (33.66 x 13.34cm)
 Materials Stainless steel; gold coating over plumbing
 Inventory Number A19790173000 Credit Line Transferred from the NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.