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This is a flight spare of the power supply for a Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU), an instrument flown on Tiros meteorological satellites beginning with Tiros-N in 1978.

The MSU's purpose was to measure the temperature profile of the Earth's atmosphere from the planet's surface to a height of 20 km. MSU, manufactured at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other instruments on the Tiros series of satellites data are part of on-going program to gather a range of data on the characteristics of and changes to the Earth's atmosphere over a period of years. MSU data on atmospheric temperatures has contributed to scientific discussions of whether the Earth is experiencing a warming trend.

The last MSU flown in space, launched on the NOAA-14 satellite (part of the Tiros program), in 1994, is still gathering data as of 2007.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration transferred this artifact to the Museum in 2004.

 Display Status

This object is on display in James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

James S. McDonnell Space Hangar
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Instruments & Payloads Manufacturer NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
 Dimensions Overall: 8 3/4 in high x 8 1/2 wide in x 13 in. long (22.23 x 21.59 x 33.02 cm)
Battery (without fixture): 6 1/2 in high x 7 1/4 in. wide x 10 1/2 in. long (16.51 x 18.42 x 26.67 cm)
 Materials Aluminum, plastic, copper
 Inventory Number A20040176001 Credit Line Transferred from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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