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 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 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 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

Rangers 1 and 2 carried micrometeorite detectors (also called “cosmic dust detectors”) aboard their brief flights. Made of a stainless steel, aluminum, as well as gold plating, rubber, and plastic, the detector fit into the hexagonal base of the Ranger spacecraft. Designed by scientist W. M. Alexander of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the device’s objective was to study the relationship of micrometeorite’s density as compared with their mass and velocity. However, the leaders of Project Ranger at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory rated the micrometeorite detector low on the Ranger’s priority-list of scientific experiments, and the experiment did not continue beyond Block I (of V) in the program.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory transferred this detector to the Museum in 1976.

 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 SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Instruments & Payloads Dimensions Overall: 19.1 x 26.3 x 19.1cm (7 1/2 x 10 3/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
 Materials Stainless Steel
Aluminum
Gold Plating
Synthetic Rubber
Plastic
Ink
 Inventory Number A19761260000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.