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Views of three of the four air rudder sprockets.

Picture 3 of 3.

Each sprocket is attached to a torsion bar which connects to the corresponding air rudder. The chain penetrates the missile's end frame and engages another sprocket attached to an actuator motor. This actuator motor drives both the jet vane and air rudder to control the missile's attitude.

I was able to photograph three of the sprockets from my vantage point in the tail unit; taking a picture of the fourth would have involved extricating myself from and reinserting myself into the tail unit, a non-trivial task, so I settled for three of the sprockets :-)

 
Air rudder/jet vane sprocket in Redstone Tail Unit at U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Time picture taken Sat Sep 14 10:55:32 2013
Location picture taken Rocket Park
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, AL
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