Battery, Corona Satellite

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Object Details

Manufacturer

General Electric, Missile & Space Division

Summary

This silver-zinc battery, made by General Electric, was the only power source for the Corona satellite's film return capsule. It provided power to fire spin and despin rockets, deploy the parachute, and operate a RF tracking beacon and flashing strobe light to help in recovery of the capsule. Corona was a highly-classified joint Air Force/Central Intelligence Agency program that successfully launched over 120 photoreconnaissance satellites from 1960-1972. This battery, actually flown on at least one mission, was donated by Robert Andrews to NASM in 1998.

Credit Line

Gift of Robert Andrews

Inventory Number

A19980278000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Electrical Power

Materials

Overall - stainless steel, silver, zinc, lead

Dimensions

3-D: 22.9 x 12.1 x 8.9cm (9 x 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Location

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Hangar

James S. McDonnell Space Hangar

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9f5d2813e-d529-4e68-80d0-794765f3bfde

Record ID

nasm_A19980278000