Scarce vintage model of a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) made by the United Technology Center, a division of United Aircraft Corporation (renamed to United Technologies effective May 1, 1975). The fiberglass model, which bears the UTC logo to its upper portion, stands 15.25″ in height and is set upon a 6″ x 6″ x 1″ wooden base with mounted plaque. In fine condition, with some light toning.
UTC's businesses have been a part of every NASA space mission over the past 50 years. Key contributions by the company to the Apollo program include:
Space Suit: UTC's legacy Hamilton Standard unit, now part of Collins Aerospace, served as one of two prime contractors on NASA's Apollo space suit. The company was responsible for the Portable Life Support System, without which Neil Armstrong would never have been able to take his historic first steps on the moon. This system pressurized the suit, provided oxygen, removed carbon dioxide, controlled humidity, and provided heat removal and cooling for those wearing the suit. The heating and cooling element was especially critical given that temperatures would range from -250° F to 250° F. Over the course of Project Apollo, the company's life support technology sustained 12 astronauts for a total of 138 hours on the moon.
Apollo Spacecraft and Lunar Module: UTC's Pratt & Whitney unit developed the technology for the fuel cells that provided power to the Apollo 11 mission. The Lunar Module which shuttled the Apollo astronauts to the moon's surface was equipped with an environmental control system developed by UTC's Hamilton Standard to provide a life-sustaining atmosphere onboard the spacecraft. This included everything from heating and cooling to carbon dioxide removal and waste management.
Radio Communications: When Neil Armstrong spoke his famous words, ‘That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,’ more than 600 million television viewers across the world were able to hear and see it thanks to the communications technology provided by Collins Radio, now part of Collins Aerospace.
