Object Details
Manufacturer
Electrada Corp.
Summary
These two metal spheres are an example of space debris that did not burn up upon reentering the atmosphere but instead survived to land on Earth. Discovered at Mt. Stuart Station, New South Wales, Australia, in April and June 1963, they are propellant tanks that were used to store fuel for control mechanisms in a U.S. Agena D spacecraft that was launched in the fall of 1962. Agena Ds were one of several different types of Agena upper stages used atop many boosters, including the Thor and Atlas. The U.S. Air Force donated them to the NASM in 1965.
Credit Line
Transferred from the United States Air Force
Date
1962-1963
Inventory Number
A19650278000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Propulsion
Materials
Non-Ferrous Alloy
Paint
Dimensions
3-D (L x W x H) (Propellant Storage Tank): 40.6 × 40.6 × 45.7cm, 10kg (1 ft. 4 in. × 1 ft. 4 in. × 1 ft. 6 in., 22lb.)
3-D (L x W x H) (Hexboard Storage Dimensions): 45.7 × 45.7 × 48.3cm, 10.9kg (1 ft. 6 in. × 1 ft. 6 in. × 1 ft. 7 in., 24lb.)
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_A19650278000