Communications Satellite, West Ford, Dipole Dispenser
Launched by the U.S. Air Force in 1963, the West Ford satellite used a unique concept to test the new undertaking of communications from space. Once in space, the dispenser (this artifact) via a spring mechanism pushed a canister, packed with millions of tiny needles (dipoles), into orbit. The needles in the canister slowly separated and formed a ring around the Earth. Antennas on the ground bounced radio signals off the ring of needles to communicate.
The museum's satellite is a prototype.
Transferred from the National Museum of American History to the Museum in 2004.
Transferred from the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- SPACECRAFT-Unmanned-Instruments & Payloads
- Aluminum, copper, plastic.
- Overall: 5 in. high x 5 in. wide x 25 3/4 in. long, 23lb. weight (12.7 x 12.7 x 65.41cm, 10.4kg)