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We are often asked to identify several additional features of the Apollo 11 Command Module. The twin eyeball-like structures (1) on the side near the aft heatshield are vents that release waste water into space. The hand rails under the side hatch (2) were present during recovery (3), the white eye ring between the hand rails was used to attach an anchor. The recovery team did not want Columbia to float away. The forward portion of Columbia’s heatshield was discarded during reentry and underneath you can see the two mortars used to eject the drogue parachutes and the three compartments that contained the main chutes.
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