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

This is the recovered return capsule of Biosatellite 2, one of several National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellites designed to investigate the influence of space flight on living organisms. On 7 September 1967, Biosatellite 2 was launched with various specimens, including insects, frog eggs, microorganisms, and plants. The primary objective of the mission was to determine whether organisms were more or less sensitive to ionizing radiation in microgravity than on Earth. Because of tropical storms in the recovery area and communications problems with the satellite the mission was terminated after 45 hours. This capsule containing the specimens separated from the satellite, deployed a parachute after entering the atmosphere, and was then recovered by an aircraft. The artifact was donated by NASA.

 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 Manufacturer General Electric Company
 Dimensions Overall: 2 ft. 3 in. × 3 ft. 2 in. (68.6 × 96.5cm)
Storage (Overall of shipping crate with object inside): 109.2 × 124.5 × 124.5cm, 224.5kg (3 ft. 7 in. × 4 ft. 1 in. × 4 ft. 1 in., 495lb.)
 Materials Overall, metal
 Inventory Number A19731629000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.