This is a full-scale mock-up of Ariel-2, the second satellite in an international cooperative venture between the United States and the United Kingdom, to provide data on the Earth's ionosphere and radiation from space. The spacecraft was designed by the Goddard Space Flight Center and built by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The experiments which it carried were provided by scientists at universities in the UK. The satellite was launched on a Scout rocket on March 27, 1964; its orbit decayed on November 18, 1967. It provided valuable data on the distribution of ozone in the upper atmosphere. Radio measurements from the spacecraft also helped establish the level of general galactic radio noise in the region of 1 MHz. The artifact was reconstructed out of a combination of left-over parts and mock-ups and transferred from NASA in 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
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed
Manufacturer
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
Dimensions
3-D: 119.4 × 64.8cm, 108kg (3 ft. 11 in. × 2 ft. 1 1/2 in., 238lb.)
Materials
Fiberglass
Aluminum Alloy
Plastics
Copper Alloy
Glass
Foil
Paint
Wood
Inventory Number
A19751411000
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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