Object Details
Manufacturer
American Science & Engineering, Incorporated
Summary
This is a flight spare proportional counter from the SAS-1/Uhuru satellite. The rectangular box is filled with gas, and has a window at one end to admit X-rays. These rays ionize the gas allowing a charge to transfer from the casing to a central anode wire. The height of the resulting output pulse is proportional to the energy of the incident X-ray. The Uhuru satellite, launched in 1970, was the first earth-orbiting spacecraft dedicated exclusively to X-ray astronomy.
This counter was transferred to NASM by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 2002.
Credit Line
Transferred from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Harvard University
Inventory Number
A20020295000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Materials
Aluminum
Steel
Coating
Synthetic
Dimensions
3-D: 51.4 × 5.1 × 5.1cm, 0.6kg (1 ft. 8 1/4 in. × 2 in. × 2 in., 1.4lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A20020295000