This is a hydrazine fuel rocket motor that produced 5 pounds of thrust for attitude control on various NASA and Department of Defense satellites. The Rocket Research Corporation, based in Redmond, Washington, began developing this class of thrusters in the mid-1960s. They provided attitude control on the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS), the U.S.’s first geostationary meteorological satellite. NASA launched the first two SMS satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 17, 1974 and February 6, 1975.
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
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Rocket Research Corporation, Redmond, Washington
Other: 2 1/4in. x 5 1/4in. x 1 1/4in., 1.3lb. (5.72 x 13.34cm, 1 1/4in., 0.6kg)
Thrust chamber and heat shield, Haynes 25 (L-605) (gold plated); injector and feed tube, Inconel 600; nozzle, aluminum; valve, steel.
A19761831000
Transferred from NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
National Air and Space Museum
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