Above, a digital model of the Apollo Command Module unified crew side hatch assembly.

The unified hatch combined the inner and outer hatches of the earlier design for improved opening speed.

Compare with the Apollo 11 hatch at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

Modeled using SolidWorks, based on hundreds of dimensioned North American Aviation engineering drawings.

See the hatch inner machining digital model by itself, and a portion of its engineering drawing detailing features at the lower left corner.

Also see a view of the outside of the hatch model, and an exploded view of the hatch gear box.

See a physical model of an Apollo hatch latch. Additional physical models made using Rapid Prototyping, await finishing below. For more information on our exhibit design technique: