This is a cutaway model of unknown scale of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Biosatellite 3, which in June 1969 carried a pig-tailed monkey named Bonnie to study the effects of the space environment on living organisms. This was the last flight in the Biosatellite program that started in 1963. Biosatellite 3 was to stay in orbit for 30 days, but Bonnie's deteriorating health forced the mission's termination after eight days. Nevertheless, important biomedical data was acquired.
The model was built by the General Electric Company, manufacturer of the real satellites, and donated by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
United States of America
MODELS-Uncrewed Spacecraft & Parts
General Electric Company
Overall: 9in. x 5 5/8in. x 9 1/4in. (22.86 x 14.29 x 23.5cm)
Plastic, Wood, Paint, Aluminum
A19760798000
Transferred from NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center.
National Air and Space Museum
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