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.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Rocket Engines

Manufacturer

Rocket Research Corporation, Redmond, Washington

Dimensions

Other: 2 1/4in. x 5 1/4in. x 1 1/4in., 1.3lb. (5.72 x 13.34cm, 1 1/4in., 0.6kg)

Materials

Thrust chamber and heat shield, Haynes 25 (L-605) (gold plated); injector and feed tube, Inconel 600; nozzle, aluminum; valve, steel.

Inventory Number

A19761831000

Credit Line

Transferred from NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

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