April 12, 1981 – The HP-41 calculator was the first calculator to have alphanumeric display capabilities, and on this day in 1981 it was used on board NASA’s first space shuttle flight. The calculator helped astronauts calculate many important things, such as the exact angle at which they needed to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere safely, and the change to the center of gravity due to fuel consumption.
The HP-41 calculator that flew on NASA’s earliest space shuttle missions is now kept on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
The NASA HP-41CV with carrying case – Image taken from Wikipedia
I have and had have the same at home. Doesnt work anymore due to a lot of corrosion on the contacts due to poor batteries… still a good souvenir of this astonishing space technology available also for the students at the same time. Good souvenirs.