This experiment was deployed on Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16 to determine the chemical composition of solar wind. The moon provided an excellent location to study solar wind because, unlike the Earth, it has no magnetic field to deflect solar wind and no atmosphere to absorb it. The solar wind composition experiment consisted of an aluminum (or in the case of Apollo 16, aluminum and platinum) foil sheet erected on a pole. The charged particles comprising the solar wind would embed in the foil, which would be taken back to Earth for analysis.
It was donated to the Smithsonian by the experiment's Principle Investigator in 1974.
Display Status
This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
EQUIPMENT-Lunar
Manufacturer
University of Berne, Switzerland
Dimensions
3-D (Foil): 140.3 × 33.7 × 5.7cm (4 ft. 7 1/4 in. × 1 ft. 1 1/4 in. × 2 1/4 in.)
3-D (Rod): 161.9 × 3.8cm (5 ft. 3 3/4 in. × 1 1/2 in.)
Materials
Aluminum
Adhesive
Plastic
Inventory Number
A19740726000
Credit Line
Donated by Dr. J. Geiss, University of Bern
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.