This is a star tracker, a component from the Voyager 2 spacecraft program. This and related items are flight-qualified spare hardware, which were used in laboratory simulations to resolve in-flight problems encountered by the Voyager spacecraft. In flight, the device found and locked on to the star Canopus, providing a reference for guidance and navigation.
Voyager 2 was an unmanned space probe which, in 1986, passed close to the planet Uranus to transmit images of its surface.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory transferred this object to the Smithsonian in 1999.
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
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Dimensions
Overall: 5 in. tall x 1 ft. 4 1/2 in. wide x 7 in. deep (12.7 x 41.91 x 17.78cm)
Other (handling fixture): 1 ft. tall x 1 ft. 8 1/2 in. wide x 10 in. deep (30.48 x 52.07 x 25.4cm)
Materials
Plastic, Steel, Aluminum, Mylar (Polyester), Adhesive, Gold Plating, Natural Fabric, Stainless Steel, Rubber (Silicone)
Inventory Number
A19990065003
Credit Line
Transfer from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of technology.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.