Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is a flight spare proportional counter from the SAS-1/Uhuru satellite. The rectangular box is filled with gas, and has a window at one end to admit X-rays. These rays ionize the gas allowing a charge to transfer from the casing to a central anode wire. The height of the resulting output pulse is proportional to the energy of the incident X-ray. The Uhuru satellite, launched in 1970, was the first earth-orbiting spacecraft dedicated exclusively to X-ray astronomy.

This counter was transferred to NASM by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 2002.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type INSTRUMENTS-Scientific Manufacturer American Science & Engineering, Incorporated
 Dimensions 3-D: 51.4 × 5.1 × 5.1cm, 0.6kg (1 ft. 8 1/4 in. × 2 in. × 2 in., 1.4lb.)
 Materials Aluminum
Steel
Coating
Synthetic
 Inventory Number A20020295000 Credit Line Transferred from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Harvard University. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.