Object Details
Manufacturer
Hughes Aircraft
Summary
Launched in 1969, Tacsat (Tactical Communications Satellite) was designed to improve the US military's ability to communicate with its forces on land, sea, or air. Tacsat's main feature was a set of large, powerful antennas. The strong signals they generated meant that military units required a relatively small antenna to received communications--a valuable feature for geographically dispersed or mobile forces.
Tacsat also was used extensively in the Apollo program to assist with coordinating ships and aircraft in the Pacific Ocean during the recovery of returning space capsules.
Hughes Aircraft donated this 1/24 scale model of a Tacsat satellite to the Museum in 1975.
Credit Line
Gift of Hughes Aircraft Co.
Inventory Number
A19750772000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
MODELS-Uncrewed Spacecraft & Parts
Materials
Plastics, copper alloy, ferrous alloy (steel), white metal plating, paint, cadmium plating
Dimensions
3-D: 38.1 × 12.1 × 14cm (1 ft. 3 in. × 4 3/4 in. × 5 1/2 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
One World Connected
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19750772000