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Ampule, Buffer, Apollo 11

National Air and Space Museum
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Object Details

Manufacturer
Unknown
Summary
To insure that drinking water during the Apollo missions did not become contaminated with microorganisms, chemical disinfectants were periodically injected into the water supply by the astronauts. A chlorine solution was used for the Command Module. The chlorine (sodium hypochlorite diluted to 1860 mg/L) was contained in 20 cc cylindrical ampules. 20 minutes before water was consumed, the ampule was inserted into the water tank. Immediately afterward, a second ampule, like this one, containing a buffer (sodium dihydrogen phosphate), to neutralize the pH of the water, and an inhibitor (sodium nitrate), to slow corrosion, was inserted. After waiting the 20 additional minutes for the chemicals to disperse throughout the tank, the water was potable.
This buffer ampule was flown on Apollo 11 Command Module and was returned unused. It was transferred from NASA to the Smithsonian along with the rest of the contents of the Command Module in 1970.
Credit Line
Transferred from the NASA - Johnson Space Center
Inventory Number
A19700102152
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Life Support
Materials
Plastic
Coating
Synthetic
Exterior: Hard-case Teflon
Contents: sodium dihydrogen phosphate
Dimensions
3-D: 3.5 × 3.5 × 7.6cm (1 3/8 × 1 3/8 × 3 in., 0.1lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Destination Moon
Title
Ampule, Buffer, Apollo 11
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19700102152
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9cd18fe7a-5ae2-4f8b-a7e7-900ad83c7853

Related Content

  • Apollo 11

    Air and Space Museum
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