Rescue Net, Apollo 8

All of the Apollo missions ended with splashdown in the ocean and recovery by specially trained teams from the U.S. Navy. Astronauts were lifted into hovering Navy helicopters by means of rescue nets attached to hydrolic hoists.This Air Rescue Net was used December 27, 1968, to recover the Apollo 8 astronauts and it was taken out of service following the rescue. The U.S. Navy transferred it to the Smithsonian in 1969.