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Launched in 1969, Tacsat (Tactical Communications Satellite) was designed to improve the US military's ability to communicate with its forces on land, sea, or air. Tacsat's main feature was a set of large, powerful antennas. The strong signals they generated meant that military units required a relatively small antenna to received communications--a valuable feature for geographically dispersed or mobile forces.

Tacsat also was used extensively in the Apollo program to assist with coordinating ships and aircraft in the Pacific Ocean during the recovery of returning space capsules.

Hughes Aircraft donated this 1/24 scale model of a Tacsat satellite to the Museum in 1975.

 Display Status

This object is on display in One World Connected at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

One World Connected
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type MODELS-Uncrewed Spacecraft & Parts Manufacturer Hughes Aircraft
 Dimensions 3-D: 38.1 × 12.1 × 14cm (1 ft. 3 in. × 4 3/4 in. × 5 1/2 in.)
 Materials Plastics, copper alloy, ferrous alloy (steel), white metal plating, paint, cadmium plating
 Inventory Number A19750772000 Credit Line Gift of Hughes Aircraft Co. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.