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Sample, skin, satelloon

Object number96.68.441

Manufacturer G.T. Schjeldahl Company

Datec. 1960

OriginNorthfield, MN

Mediumaluminum; mylar

Credit LineGift of Alcoa, Inc.

DescriptionRectangular sheet of satelloon skin.DimensionsHeight x Width: 2.875 × 6.188 in. (7.3 × 15.7 cm)
MarksFront has red and blue text including "NASA / RIGIDIZED / Satelloon* Skin / [logo] G.T. Schjeldahl Co. / NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA ... / Fabricator for / THE ECHO PROGRAM / ... / This sample is a "sandwich" of ALCOA ultra-thin aluminum..."
Historical NotesThis sample documents the use of aluminum in space technology and travel. Used on the Echo Satelloon for communication purposes. Project Echo was the first passive communications satellite experiment. Each of the two American spacecraft, launched in 1960 and 1964, was a metalized balloon satellite acting as a passive reflector of microwave signals. Communication signals were bounced off them from one point on Earth to another.

Related institution Aluminum Company of America (1907 - 1998)

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