This piece is part of the wind tunnel model set used to test different Space Shuttle designs; its purpose is not clear. The model set dates from the early Shuttle design effort (1968-1970) when the Convair Division of General Dynamics evaluated the aerodynamics of different design concepts. A private collector donated the model set to the Museum in 2007.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.