SPACE & AEROSPACE MEDICINE A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Johnsville Centrifuge A facility at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory of the Navy Air Development Center, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, used throughout the early American space program; it was the most powerful centrifuge then in existence. With a 17-meter radius, it had a rate change of 10g/s and could reach 40 g/s. The 10-meter-diameter gimbal-mounted chamber was fully air-conditioned. Prior to the arrival of the Mercury Astronauts in August of 1959, the Johnsville Centrifuge was used for testing by X-15 pilots – including Neil Armstrong prior to his selection by NASA. To this day, the Johnsville Centrifuge holds the distinction of being the largest human centrifuge ever built. In addition to the Centrifuge, the developments at the Johnsville Naval Air Development Center (NADC) included pioneering work on GPS, transition lenses, ejection seats, and "black boxes". Johnsville Centrifuge and Science Museum Although the centrifuge itself (including its 4,000 HP electric motor) has been decommissioned for the past decade or so, it is in private hands and a science museum is slated to open in the next 18 months using the historic centrifuge as its prime attraction. In the mean time, building tours are available and a collection of artifacts is on display including the contour couch used by Deke Slayton in the centrifuge, and the Mayo Tank – a precursor to the "Iron Maiden" that was used test the effectiveness of water as a buffer to high G forces. [Thanks to John Murawski of the Johnsville Centrifuge and Science Musuem for further information] Related category    • SPACE AND AEROSPACE MEDICINE External link Johnsville Centrifuge and Science Museum Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP