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This is a flight spare of the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU), an instrument flown on Tiros meteorological satellites beginning with Tiros-N in 1978. This MSU (designated Flight Model 8) was built in 1984 by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but never flew.

The MSU's purpose was to measure the temperature profile of the Earth's atmosphere from the planet's surface to a height of 20 km (12.4 miles). The MSU and other instruments on the Tiros series of satellites data are part of on-going program to gather a range of data on the characteristics of and changes to the Earth's atmosphere over a period of years. MSU data on atmospheric temperatures has contributed to scientific discussions of whether the Earth is experiencing a warming trend.

The last MSU flown in space, launched on the NOAA-14 satellite (part of the Tiros program), in 1994, is still gathering data as of 2007.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration transferred this artifact to the Museum in 2004.

 Display Status

This object is on display in One World Connected at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

One World Connected
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Test Vehicles Manufacturer NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
 Dimensions 3-D: 72.4 × 54 × 40.3cm (2 ft. 4 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 9 1/4 in. × 1 ft. 3 7/8 in.)
 Materials HAZ MAT: Thoriated Magnesium
Aluminum Alloy
Fiberglass or other Reinforced Resin
Adhesive
Uncharacterized Coatings and Metals
Plastics and Epoxy Resin
Electrical Wiring
Copper Alloys
Synthetic Fabrics
 Inventory Number A20040176000 Credit Line Transferred from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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