Microcasette Recorder, Space Shuttle

This battery-powered microcasette tape recorder flew as crew equipment on 14 Space Shuttle missions from 1990-1996. Astronauts use these handy devices to record their observations of experiments, problems encountered in flight, and other mission activities. They might also use them to listen to music, procedures, or messages from home. Like cameras, this is a commercial product adopted for use in space. As electronic equipment becomes more compact and more capable, NASA retires older pieces like this one to use more advanced versions. NASA transferred this tape recorder to the Museum in 2005, probably because it was replaced with a digital recorder.