This is an engineering prototype X-ray detector system such as that flown on the Solrad 10 satellite (Explorer 44), launched on 8 July 1971 into an eccentric orbit between 630 and 436 km with an orbital period of 95 minutes. The 12-sided cylindrical satellite was spin stabilized at 60 rpm. It contained several solar X-ray and UV detectors. This particular detector suite used an open faced thin film covered sensor fed by a gas supply system, a stellar X-ray detector, window material, and a telemetry formatter. The metal grid in this detector was designed to filter out all radiation but X-rays. The charges generated by the impact of the photons on the interior gas in the detector would travel to the oppositely charged electrode. Additional collisions of the ions and electrons with filling gas on their way to the electrodes generated more charges. This in effect amplified the signal that was counted at the electrode.
This artifact is part of a collection of high energy detectors from the Naval Research Laboratory. It was transferred to NASM in 1987.
This object is on display in Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
United States of America
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Naval Research Laboratory
3-D (Gas Tank): 14 x 16.5 x 21.6cm (5 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.)
3-D (PCM Encoder): 8.3 x 8.9 x 10.2cm (3 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 4 in.)
3-D (Silver Box): 21 x 6.4 x 17.1cm (8 1/4 x 2 1/2 x 6 3/4 in.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W) (Cellophane): 78.7 x 48.3cm (31 x 19 in.)
3-D (Dark Box): 21 x 10.8 x 17.1cm (8 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 in.)
Metal case, electronics, plastic tubing
A19880013000
Transferred from the Naval Research Laboratory
National Air and Space Museum
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