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Catalog Data

Manufacturer:
Spacerays Inc; Boller & Chivens  Search this
Materials:
Aluminum, Steel, Acrylic (Plexiglas), Paint, Wood, Mylar (Polyester), Cadmium Plating, Adhesive, Paper,
Synthetic Fabric
Dimensions:
Storage (Rehoused on 48 x 48 aluminum pallet): 123.8 × 125.1 × 129.5cm, 139.7kg (48 3/4 × 49 1/4 × 51 in., 308lb.)
Type:
EQUIPMENT-Photographic
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Summary:
This is a collection of parts from the laser-ranging satellite tracking system that the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory used at Mt. Hopkins near Tucson, Arizona. Included are gelatin filters that were components in the secondary optical system and served to filter out light not of laser signal. The satellite laser tracking systems were designed as a refinement on the Baker-Nunn cameras developed by SAO in connection with the International Geophysical Year. They comprised a laser transmitter mounted side-by-side with a telescope receiver, which were used to obtain highly accurate measurements of orbital altitudes and tracks of artificial satellites. They provided ranging data at accuracy levels of one meter or better.
SAO operated four laser-tracking systems around the world—in Brazil, Peru, Australia, and Mt. Hopkins. The program was used to track a large number of satellites from its inception in 1968 until it was shut down in 1982. SAO transferred these parts to the Museum in 1980.
Credit Line:
Transferred from Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Inventory Number:
A19840406007
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv95d24230f-9605-449f-8ffd-702d06ef061d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19840406007