On the Radar: NASA’s Infamous “Gimbal Rig”

This image shows NASA's Gimbal Rig in motion. NASA used this device to test Mercury astronauts' ability to recover from disorientation that resulted from up to 30 RPM in simultaneous roll, pitch, and yaw. The astronauts had to reset their mock instruments after--and sometimes during--the exercise to prove they could control the craft in tumble …