Space Shuttle astronauts carried one or more slightly-modified laptop computers, which were used for a variety of tasks to assist them in carrying out their missions. Early laptops did not have a built-in modem, as later ones have, and therefore this modem was carried on-board to allow the crew to communicate with ground stations. This modem flew on several Shuttle missions, from 1991 to 1996.
NASA transferred this object to the Museum in 1998.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.