Arctic explorers both on and under the ice had long known that magnetic and gyroscopic compasses performed erratically or not at all near the Pole — one reason for the controversy over Robert Peary's claim to have reached the Pole in 1909. Once Nautilus dropped under the ice pack, those weaknesses raised the real danger that the sub could get lost. Anderson and his crew depended upon an innovative and experimental inertial navigation system originally designed for the Air Force's Navajo missile. Anderson later admitted considerable skepticism about the device, since it had never been used in a ship before. "A lot of debugging had to be done at first," he said. He came to appreciate the new system as it guided Nautilus unerringly through the Arctic Ocean to the Pole.
The new navigation and sonar systems allowed Anderson and his crew to sail along the Chukchi Plateau and over the Lomonosov Ridge with ease. In fact, once in the Arctic Ocean the Nautilus saw surprisingly smooth sailing. The crew enjoyed first-run movies and a free jukebox while the scientists aboard charted previously known ocean floor features, including huge mountains and deep canyons.
Caption: Eisenhower aide James Hagerty put together a map of the Nautilus's voyage for his boss soon after the trip ended. Eisenhower Archives, Nautilus documents, James Hagerty Papers, Box 7, Nautilus. http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Digital.Documents/Nautilus/Map.pdf
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