Summary Message Enable Keyboard (SMEK), measuring 9.5 x 7 x 10, with a Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation label on the side of the frame, stamp-dated April 1983, reading: "Control Indicator, Model YC1951, Serial 8242, Part 85-154-306-05, Contract NAS9-15014." The unit features 40 individual buttons, 26 of which are labeled, with among them "SSPC Comp Init," "S-Band AGC Cal Curves," "KU-Band DP 17," and "Space Lab DP 18." In fine condition. Accompanied by two NASA/JSC training manuals entitled "Summary Message Enable Keyboard (SMEK), UT SMEK 2102, Space Transportation System." Due to the enormous amount of data generated during a Space Shuttle flight, it was not practical to perform certain processing actions upon the total influx of data. This device was created to initiate desired telemetry processing actions from a flight controller’s console. The SMEK was used to transmit specific requests to the telemetry application program in the Mission Operations Computer. Thus a Shuttle flight controller could receive data as labeled as on the command buttons of the SMEK.
