Satellite, Biosatellite 2

This is the recovered return capsule of Biosatellite 2, one of several National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellites designed to investigate the influence of space flight on living organisms. On 7 September 1967, Biosatellite 2 was launched with various specimens, including insects, frog eggs, microorganisms, and plants. The primary objective of the mission was to determine whether organisms were more or less sensitive to ionizing radiation in microgravity than on Earth. Because of tropical storms in the recovery area and communications problems with the satellite the mission was terminated after 45 hours. This capsule containing the specimens separated from the satellite, deployed a parachute after entering the atmosphere, and was then recovered by an aircraft. The artifact was donated by NASA.