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This swatch is aluminized mylar from the same batch of material used to construct the Echo 1 satellite.

Launched in 1960, Echo 1 was one of the first attempts to assess requirements and techniques for conducting communications via space. The satellite was a remarkably simple device: A reflective sphere 30 meters (100 feet) in diameter. Serving as a "mirror" in space, signals were directed at the satellite from one location on Earth, and reflected back down to another location.

Aluminized mylar, lightweight and durable, provided the mirror-like surface. To manufacture this material, clear mylar was coated with aluminum in a vacuum.

This artifact was transferred to the Museum from NASA in 1960.

 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 SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Parts & Structural Components Manufacturer DuPont Company
Standard Packaging Corporation
 Dimensions Overall: 8 x 10in. (20.32 x 25.4cm)
 Materials Mylar, aluminum
 Inventory Number A19610022000 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.