Planetary Probe, Comet Penetrator, Drop Test Model

Full view of a pointed gray metallic cylinder with a round base.

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Object Details

Manufacturer

NASA Ames Research Center

Summary

Originally designed for a future Mars Penetrator mission, probes such as this have been extensively tested for planetary exploration. Instruments on a comet nucleus penetrator could relay back information on composition of unaltered subsurface comet material, the variation in temperature near the surface, and the strength of the surface. This penetrator was produced in the 1980s for drop tests in planning for a future Mars mission.

Transferred by NASA Ames Research Center

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inventory Number

A19850393000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Test Vehicles

Materials

aluminin and tungston steel

Dimensions

3-D: 119.4 x 8.9cm, 18.1kg (47 x 3 1/2 in., 40lb.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9ae82946e-ddf9-4843-aa26-0d6ac49798bc

Record ID

nasm_A19850393000