Gizmo Quiz

For 24 April 2004

[iamlost]

Here it is ... whatever it is!

[saltspring.gulfislands.com ]

[bunltd]

Is this used to make something?

LisaB

[iamlost]

Nope.

[bunltd]

is it used to clean something?

[iamlost]

Nope.

[bunltd]

is it in use today?

[iamlost]

Ah darn. Good question :-)

It was last used about thirty years ago.
If news accounts are correct it may be used again in another thirty years.

[mcavill]

does it have a mirror on one of the sides?

[bunltd]

was it used commercially, or was did it have a residential use?

[iamlost]

No mirror.

[iamlost]

Neither commercial or residential.

[bunltd]

when folded, does it fit into something else?

[iamlost]

No knowledge of a case.

[waynet]

Is there only one of them, or was it mass produced?

[iamlost]

Exact number unknown but definitely not mass produced.

I am guessing but definitely less than a dozen and it might possibly be unique.

[victor]

anything lunar?

[iamlost]

The Gizmo is terran.
It has been on several lunar excursions though.

[globay]

very good gismo!

is it used to measure something?
dust, for example?

edit: typo

[iamlost]

Measures - nothing.

Dust - depends ;-)

[globay]

was this gismo used by the astronauts to collect moon dust?

[iamlost]

I am not sure how exact the "winning" gizmo answer has to be ("senior" types can wade in) but in generic terms globay is correct.

If the consensus is that the answer is good enough I will give link, etc. If not, try a little harder!

[globay]

could
this [images.google.de] be part of it:

[edited by: globay at 9:09 pm (utc) on April 24, 2004]

[bunltd]

Is this it?

Soil Mechanics Experiment
[history.nasa.gov...]

Scroll all the way down...
FIGURE 54.-Self-recording penetrometer.
The mechanical properties of the lunar soil are important for both engineering and scientific reasons...

LisaB

[iamlost]

So the Quiz continues.

globay - that's moon dust but not the Gizmo!

bunltd - an enormous list of lunar tools but not the Gizmo! (it ain't any on that page)

[globay]

Lunar Surface Sampler:
[nasm.si.edu...]

[globay]

good picture here:
[hq.nasa.gov...]

[globay]

Here is the original picture:
[hq.nasa.gov...]

Edit: Name: Contact Soil Sampling Device

[iamlost]

globay found a better pic than I did - good work.

Figure 1: Contact Soil Sampling Device (89k)
Top left: CSSD open in the sampling position. Top right: Device closed for stowage after sampling. Bottom left: Device open showing Beta cloth sampler. Bottom right: Device open showing Velvet cloth sampler. NASA photo S72-43792.

[hq.nasa.gov ]

bunltd was so very close too ... actually thought you'd get there first.
So next week we get to stumble about trying to locate some obscure Gizmo courtesy of globay!

:-)

[edited by: iamlost at 9:42 pm (utc) on April 24, 2004]

[bunltd]

Great Job, globay!

I've been wading through NASA archives - and there is a lot of interesting stuff!

Thanks iamlost for a fun quiz...

iamlost asked:
WHO uses this gizmo?
WHAT is this gizmo?
WHERE is this gizmo used?
WHEN is this gizmo used?
WHY would anyone want this gizmo?
HOW can you find info on this gizmo?

;)Things I learned from the gizmo quiz today:
1. astronaut, 2. contact soil sampling device, 3. moon, 4. 1969 5. visit the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

LisaB

[globay]

iamlost, thanks a lot for that great gizmo quiz.

This is the first time I have actually participated in a gizmo quiz, and I probably won't be close to any computer next weekend, so if there is anybody who would like to present the new gizmo, you are welcome to.

(I don't know the rules exactly, so if anybody could instruct me on what to do, that would be nice)