This tube is a section of the horn used to channel radiation to the Far Infrared Absolute Spectrometer (FIRAS) that flew on the COBE satellite. This instrument compared infrared radiation from the sky to that from an internal reference black body (see Catalogue #19960298005). The flight instrument that it represents sent back data for the 10 months during which the supply of liquid helium supply was adequate to cool the cryostat to 1.5 K. It performed 1.6 full scans of the sky in that time. It provided a wealth of data that helped support and elucidate the Big Bang theory of the creation of the Universe.
This part from the engineering protoypte of FIRAS was transferred to NASM from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 1997. It is now stored at the Garber facilty.
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
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Manufacturer
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
Dimensions
3-D (Diameter x Length): 7.4 × 33cm (2 15/16 in. × 1 ft. 1 in.)
Materials
Aluminum Alloy
Non-Magnetic White Metal
Copper Alloy
Adhesive Tape
Uncharacterized Coating (Possible Anodized Coating)
Inventory Number
A19960298001
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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