This is a custom-built expansion joint used in the electrical cable system of 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 transmitting stations. Each of the transmitting and receiving stations had many hundreds of these expansion joints to accomodate the temperature fluctuations at them. 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.
The manufacturer is unknown. 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
Dimensions
3-D: 34.9 × 19.7cm (1 ft. 1 3/4 in. × 7 3/4 in.)
Materials
Copper Alloy
Non-Magnetic Metal
Plastic
Paper
Adhesive
Unknown Coating
Inventory Number
A20181527000
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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