Radiator Patch, Main Mission Antenna, Iridium Communications Satellite

Object Details

Manufacturer

Raytheon Company

Summary

Each of the main mission antennas on an Iridium satellite consists of more than 100 of these small antennas, manufactured by Raytheon. They receive signals from ground-based phones, and the signals are then processed by onboard computers. After processing, the original signal is either retransmitted to the ground or passed to another satellite.

Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group, Satellites Communications Division, donated this artifact to the Museum in 1998.

Credit Line

Gift of Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group.

Inventory Number

A19990141000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Communications

Materials

Copper Alloy

Aluminum Alloy

Mylar

Uncharacterized Insulation

Dimensions

3-D: 6 × 6 × 1.3cm (2 3/8 × 2 3/8 × 1/2 in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A19990141000

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv936220510-4d0c-4f47-8ce6-2d97568d9dae