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Spacecraft, Sphere, Reentered

Display Status:
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum, it is either on loan or in storage.

Spacecraft, Sphere, Reentered

 

  • Summary

Manufacturer:   Airteck Dynamic Inc.

Country of Origin: United States of America

Dimensions:
Overall: 2ft (60.96cm)

Materials:
Titanium

This is a titanium sphere from a U.S. Agena-D spacecraft that survived reentry into the Earth's atmosphere and impacted Australia in the early 1970s. The sphere was used to store gaseous helium on the spacecraft for propulsion. It is not known exactly what Agena-D the sphere came from or when it returned to Earth. Airteck Dynamic made the sphere and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory donated it to NASM in 1973.

Transferred from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.


Inventory number: A19730740000