Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is an engineering prototype of Orbiting Solar Observatory 1 (OSO-1), the earliest of the spin stabilized scientific satellites. This object touted the ability of the satellite's systems to search out and lock onto a "solar" image. It demonstrated the sun-pointing capabilities of the satellite. It contains actual instruments in the octagonal spin section, and mock-ups in the pointed section, save for the photoelectric eye block. Ball Aerospace Systems Division restored this engineering prototype in 1982.

Transferred from the NASA to the Museum in 1981.

 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
Date 1983-1997 Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed Manufacturer Ball Aerospace Systems Division
 Dimensions Overall: 3 ft. 1 in. tall x 10 ft. 6 in. wide, 415 lb. (94 x 320cm, 188.2kg)
Other (spacecraft body): 3 ft. 1 in. tall x 3 ft. 8 in. diameter (94 x 111.8cm)
 Materials Magnesium and aluminum alloys, optics, electronics, solar cells
 Inventory Number A19820270000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.