| NASA Center: |
Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Image # : |
72-H-1360 |
|---|
| Date : |
10/13/72
|
|---|
|
Title
"Space Flower" Antenna Application Technology Satellite (ATS)
Full Description
"Space Flower" was the first of the 9-meter (30-foot) diameter
antennas for the Application Technology Satellites (ATS). The ATS
program was initiated in 1966 to demonstrate the feasibility and
capability of placing a satellite in geostationary (geosynchronous)
orbit over a fixed location on the Earth's surface. The
saucer-shaped antenna, built at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.,
Sunnyvale, California, are constructed of aluminum ribs and Dacron
mesh that are copper plated and coated with silicone. Also shown is
the mold on which the mesh is sewn to the flexible ribs and later
sewn in place. For the ride into space, the antenna ribs and mesh are
wrapped around the hub of the antenna. When the antenna and
spacecraft arrived in the proper orbit, a signal caused a restraining
cable to be cut, and the antenna blossomed like an opening flower.
Keywords
Antenna Space Flower Application Technology Satellites ATS
Subject Category
Communication-Satellites
Reference Numbers
- Center:
GSFC
- Center Number:
72-H-1360
- GRIN DataBase Number:
GPN-2003-00012
Source Information
- Creator/Photographer: NASA
- Original Source: DIGITAL
| Resolution | Format | Width
(Pixels) | Height
(Pixels) | Size
(KBytes) |
| Thumbnail |
JPEG |
72 |
92 |
13 |
| Small |
JPEG |
512 |
656 |
91 |
| Medium |
JPEG |
1200 |
1538 |
235 |
| Large |
JPEG |
2400 |
3076 |
693 |
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Updated Aug 20, 2009
• History Questions: NASA History Office
• Responsible NASA Official: Steve Garber
• Author: Michael Hahn. Editor: Dwayne A. Day
• Curator & Technical Questions: Erin Needham
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