Rare photograph of an early Command Module ‘chop shop’, with two of the clean-cut thugs, posing as Honeywell Manufacturing engineers, preparing to fence the stripped components, which include both a Translation Hand Controller & Rotation Hand Controller, a Stabilization and Control System (SCS) panel, an Attitude Set & Gimbal Display panel & Velocity Change Indicator panel. Even a coveted Flight Director/Atitude Indicator (FDAI), with a street value of least $275. Fortunately, these were all Block I Command Module components, only to become obsolete and of no value within several years. What looks to be the installed Translation Hand Controller is visible through the side window, equipped with its jail cell door observation window sliding panel.
Note also the chart recorder/plotter, which looks to be placed/positioned atop some sort of shelving or similar structure in the background. Also, the elevated floodlights, angled downward & possibly attached to scaffolding. Interesting.
“RONALD CHISENHALL”. Really? Obviously, the perps got a little carried away with the alias. I suppose to not be too plain/dull/vanilla, like say Jones, Smith, Carpenter, etc.
Or, I suppose it could conceivably be associated with the following, from the February 6, 1964 entry of “The Apollo Spacecraft - A Chronology”/NASA SP-4009. In fact, it explains the components prominently “on display” in the photograph:
“Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company reported it had developed an all-attitude display unit for the CM to monitor the guidance and navigation system and provide backup through the stabilization and control system. The Flight Director Attitude Indicator (or "eight-ball") would give enough information for all spacecraft attitude maneuvers during the entire mission to be executed manually, if necessary.
Honeywell News Release, "All-Attitude Display Produced By Honeywell For Apollo Spacecraft," February 6, 1964; Space Business Daily, February 24, 1964, p. 290.”
At:
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4009/v2p2c.htm
Finally, as I’m sure at least one of you is wondering, what is this Command Module designated as? A ‘boilerplate’ I think.