Communications Satellites - National Air and Space Museum
Learn about how a communications satellite works and how it helps us to connect to each other around the world.
Satellite, MOUSE, Concept Model - National Air and Space Museum
The MOUSE (Minimal Orbital Unmanned Satellite, Earth) is a full-scale design concept model for an artificial satellite.
Jupiter-C Rocket (Replica) | National Air and Space Museum
Launch Vehicle for First U.S. Artificial Satellite This is a full-scale reproduction of the Jupiter-C launch vehicle with a replica of the Explorer I satellite on top. A Jupiter-C rocket launched the Explorer I satellite on January 31, 1958. 1958 United States of America CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets Reynolds Metals Company Overall: 66 ft. 7 3/16 in. × 5 …
Sputnik Arming Key in Space Race - National Air and Space Museum
This metal arming key is the last remaining piece of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. It prevented contact between the batteries and transmitters until Sputnik was prepared for launch. A pin mounted on the launch vehicle served the same purpose until the satellite separated from the launcher in orbit. Only then did Sputnik begin to transmit the distinctive "beep, beep, beep ...
Ariel 1 Satellite - National Air and Space Museum
This is a replica of Ariel-1 satellite, the world's first internationally conceived and executed satellite.
Communications Satellite, Oscar I - National Air and Space Museum
The program has sparked innovations in spacecraft design and manufacture and enabled radio enthusiasts to participate in satellite communications. The Museum's artifact is a scale model of the Oscar 1 spacecraft, donated by Project Oscar to the Museum in 1963.
Mars - National Air and Space Museum
Earth's natural satellite is the Moon, but many objects in our Solar System have multiple natural satellites. Humans have also created artificial satellites—human-made machines and spacecraft in orbit around our Earth or other objects in our galaxy.
Experiment, Artificial Gravity, Kosmos 936 - National Air and Space …
This is an experimental block that an international team of scientists used to test the effects of artificial gravity on rats. On August 3, 1977, the USSR launched the satellite, Kosmos 936, also know as Bion 4, into orbit from the Pletsesk Cosmondrome.
Jupiter - National Air and Space Museum
Earth's natural satellite is the Moon, but many objects in our Solar System have multiple natural satellites. Humans have also created artificial satellites—human-made machines and spacecraft in orbit around our Earth or other objects in our galaxy.
Baker-Nunn Satellite Tracking Collection - National Air and Space …
The Baker-Nunn Camera, designed by James Baker and Joseph Nunn, was created to observe both natural and man-made satellites orbiting at a great altitude. This high-precision telescopic tracking camera was used by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) to track artificial satellites from the 1950s to mid-1970s. The SAO set up a highly successful optical tracking system using a network ...