A look at an early Space Shuttle PDRS Display

One of the main mission directives of the Space Shuttle being to deploy and capture satellites, a system was required for astronauts to delicately and accurately manipulate play-loads at arms length; specifically, the 15 meter Canadarm. This system, known as the Space Shuttle Payload Deployment and Retrieval System (PDRS), included a series of cameras and television monitors that would allow the crew the dexterity required to perform such mission critical tasks.

This is an early example of one of those monitors, a CRT display developed by RCA Astroelectronics that includes an optical grid overlay to assist in properly maneuvering the Canadarm. Original cost: $240,000 USD. As someone who’s worried about the fate of the living room flat screen during a move 14 miles down the road, i can imagine most of that price tag going toward the development of a chassis that could protect the delicate glass tube from the repeated g-loads experienced during lift-off and re-entry. It’s no wonder later PDRS displays moved to LCD technology in the 90’s.