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Spinoff story
Abernathy's Lap
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
A Bell Aerospace Textron technician is lapping"--fine polishing--a delicate space instrument part to get precise tolerance. The polishing device first developed for precision grinding needs of the Saturn V moonbooster's guidance system is an Abernathy lap which allows extremely accurate finish polishing in a fraction of time required by earlier methods. Result is extremely accurate flatness and surface finish."