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National Security Space

Air and Space Museum

During the Cold Wars, the United States and USSR looked toward space for ways to spy on one another for the purposes of maintaining National Security and technological superiority. This group of objects represent some of the early advances in space-based reconnaissance during the Space Race.


  • National Air and Space Museum 54 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographic equipment 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Uncrewed spacecraft 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Components (objects) 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Models 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Crewed spacecraft 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Testing equipment 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Rockets 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Equipment 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Missiles 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Electrical systems 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States of America 54 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Air and Space Museum Collection 54 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • James S. McDonnell Space Hangar 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Rockets & Missiles 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photography 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Outer space 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Spaceflight 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Human spaceflight 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • War 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Aeronautics 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 51 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Resource Type: Instruments close

Core, Reentry Capsule, Datasphere

Battery, Reentry Capsule, Datasphere

Biocapsule, Primate

Cradle, Primate

Rectangular foil-covered box-shaped Primate Biocapsule container connected to large metal plate

Biocapsule, Primate

Opened metal cylindrical Primate Cradle with sponge rubber inside and "Original Baker Cradle" label

Cradle, Primate

Reentry Capsule, Satellite, Discoverer XIII

Reentry Capsule Parachute, Satellite, Discoverer XIII

Reentry Capsule, Cover and Screws/Bolts, Satellite, Discoverer XIII

Satellite, Tanks, Propellant Storage, Agena

Model, Wind Tunnel, X-20 Dyna-Soar

Infrared sensor with black and white checkered cone with a ring mount.

Sensor, Infrared, Series III, Missile Defense Alarm System

Model, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, 1:30

Tank, Helium, Agena-D, Reentered

Horizon Sensor, Satellite, Agena

Model, Space Plane, Wind Tunnel, X-20 Dyna-Soar

Tank, Propellant, Spacecraft, Agena

Monkey, Able

Model, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, 1:48

Missile, Anti-Missile, Homing Overlay Experiment, (HOE)

Missile, Air-Launched, Anti-Satellite (ASAT)

Pylon, Missile, ASAT

Model, Dyna-soar X-20

Aircraft, X-15m Q-Ball, Nosecone

Model, Corona Film Return System

Model, Rocket, Agena

Model, Rocket, Thor Agena D, Thrust-Augmented

Insignia, 6594th Test Group, U.S. Air Force

Camera, Lens, Stellar, Corona

Battery, Corona Satellite

Hook, Corona

Sphere-shaped black satellite with square panels inside white circles. Three long poles extend outwards from the satellite.

Satellite, Electronic Intelligence, Galactic Radiation and Background, (GRAB-1)

Imagery Processing System, IDEX II

Light Table, Cutler-Hammer AIL 1540

Carrying Case, Bausch & Lomb Zoom 240 Stereoscopic Viewer Lenses


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