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This is a spare receiver dipole antenna used in the Space Surveillance Fence. The system's three transmitter stations, located across the southern United States, emitted a continous wave of radio energy in a narrow fan-shaped pattern. Together the beams extended about 5,000 miles from west to east and about 15,000 miles into space. Any object passing through a beam was illuminated and the reflected signals acquired by one or more or the six receiving stations along the same latitude as the transmitter stations. Each of the receiving stations had many hundreds of these antennas. Unclassified and classified catalogs of all known objects in orbit were prepared from data from the Space Surveillance Fence and other sensors.

The Air Force assumed operation of the Space Surveillance Fence from the Navy in 2004. It was decommissioned in 2013, to be replaced by a space-based system.

Mega Industries manufactured the antenna. The Air Force transferred it to the Museum in 2014.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type EQUIPMENT-Electronics Manufacturer Mega Industries
 Dimensions Approximate: 61 × 61cm (24 × 24 in.)
 Materials White Metal Alloy
Solder
Plastic
 Inventory Number A20181523000 Credit Line Transferred from the United States Air Force Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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