I see this device in many places in International Space Station; what is it called and what does it do?
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2$\begingroup$ They are kitchen timers. See watchuseek.com/threads/… for example. $\endgroup$– Jon CusterMay 26 at 15:18
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$\begingroup$ Thanx A lot, it is indeed a programmable timers from pyrex you could add this as an Answer if you wish $\endgroup$– Ahmed El-BermawyMay 26 at 15:24
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5$\begingroup$ @GdD - no, one increments hours/minutes/second with the top three buttons, selects which of 4 separate concurrent timers with the middle four, and then the bottom 3 are stop/start, clear, and enter. Plus a slide selector on the side. $\endgroup$– Jon CusterMay 26 at 16:15
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2 Answers
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A clear close up of one is at https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/small-white-timing-clock-inside-the-iss.125971/ - they are Pyrex Professional brand kitchen timers.
If the link above does not work, I've found this:
One can see the 10 buttons. It does seem that NASA did not get ones prominently marked "Pyrex Professional".
You might be amazed how many kitchen timers can be found in labs around the world.
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5$\begingroup$ The venerable kitchen timer, NASA could spend a million and not get something better. I looked at tons of pilots watches for timing turns and patterns in instrument flying and ended up putting a kitchen timer in the cockpit instead. $\endgroup$– GdDMay 26 at 15:45
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5$\begingroup$ Known to all in ops as "egg timers". Ubiquitous in shuttle as well i.imgur.com/QPBSBLm.jpg $\endgroup$ May 26 at 16:22
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3$\begingroup$ @OrganicMarble - they seem to be standardized? Would make sense so that you don't have to fumble with each different one on the planet (or off the planet). $\endgroup$ May 26 at 16:34
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3$\begingroup$ @OrganicMarble - Given how quickly the styles change at my local cooking store, it seems likely somebody bought a big box full at some point. Nice. $\endgroup$ May 26 at 16:35
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7$\begingroup$ Now I'm picturing a special procurement of space-rated, rad-hard kitchen timers... $\endgroup$ May 26 at 16:40
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The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum has one that was used on STS-95 on display. The description states it was used by John Glenn on STS-95 in 1998, and the country of origin is "United States". So it's possible these were custom designed for the space program and either also sold on the civilian market, or copied. The first photo below is the actual timer used by John Glenn, and the second states it is a "replica" of the ISS version. The "Time Check" trademark logo would indicate that it was made by an outside entity.
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$\begingroup$ So time check was the exact logo found on the ones on ISS, I zoomed in and I see it now, thanx @Greg Miller $\endgroup$ Jun 1 at 1:10