This is a complete but damaged flight model (Tube 121) image tube designed and utilized by John Lowrance in the mid-to-late1970s for electronic imaging capabilities for space telescope applications, notably for the Hubble Space Telescope. This specific example was dropped during inspection in the Lowrance laboratory in 2007, but the curator decided that it still warranted accession because the breakage actually serves to expose the internal parts for better inspection. It is one of several examples accessioned from John Lowrance's company that represent the state of the art for this class of detector at the time NASA decided to switch from this technology to solid state CCD detectors for the Wide Field Planetary Camera.
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
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Dimensions
3-D: 43.8 × 10.5 × 10.5cm, 1.4kg (1 ft. 5 1/4 in. × 4 1/8 in. × 4 1/8 in., 3lb.)
Materials
Steel
Glass
Copper Alloy
Coating
Aluminum
Synthetic
Ceramic
Inventory Number
A20070102000
Credit Line
Gift of John L. Lowrance
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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