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Sample, Material

Object number96.68.422

Manufacturer G.T. Schjeldahl Company

OriginNorthfield, MN

Mediumaluminum; mylar; ink

Credit LineGift of Alcoa, Inc.

DescriptionRectangular sheet of satelloon skin.Dimensions2.875 x 6.25 in. (7.3 x 15.9 cm)
Inscriptions"H. 1648" handwritten on front in upper right corner in black ink.
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.Label TextRectangular sheet of satelloon skin used on the Echo Satelloon for communication purposes.

Related institution Aluminum Company of America (1907 - 1998)

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