From the collection of Mr. D Durham , a NASA engineer that worked on the Apollo program in the 1960’s, Durham developed Exploding Foil Initiator designs EFI’s. When a spacecraft is in space and needs to release / detach certain components it does this with a series of systems that activate a charge. This small controlled explosion is a series of components ‘train’. One may release an electrical charge that activates the train to reach the area of ignition. It is a rather complex safety system and Mr. Durham worked on several approved and used components for the mission. This particular device looks like a contractor model that shows some prototype of this type.

The unit comes in a nice custom wood box and the models tolerances are so tight and exacting that is is almost held together by a vacuums force. You can open up the model and see the elements of the design and also how well and precise it is made. The clear tube is glass and everything slips tightly back in place. All of this work was for the Apollo craft so it may have been used or it may have been one of the prototype designs, nevertheless it is a great contractor model that Durham kept in his collection of work made at NASA.

Case measures: 9.5” x 3” x 3”