Spherical polished aluminum alloy shell with six threaded ports for installation of solar cell arrays, two of which are still in place, 20 inches (508 mm) diameter, lacking antennae. The solar array assemblies are marked on the reverse:one with the letters "NRC," the other with a sticker reading "National Rectifier Corporation Semiconductor Systems Division." Although officially described by the U.S. Naval Research laboratory and NASA as scientific satellites intended to report on solar radiation, SOLRAD's use as SIGINT (signals intelligence) spy satellites has been widely accepted by the general public. Nonetheless, SOLRAD 1 produced some important scientific data regarding the effects of solar radiation on the Earth's atmosphere. SOLRAD 1 was launched June 22, 1960, and is still in orbit.
Spherical polished aluminum alloy shell with six threaded ports for installation of solar cell arrays, two of which are still in place, 20 inches (508 mm) diameter, lacking antennae. The solar array assemblies are marked on the reverse:one with the letters "NRC," the other with a sticker reading "National Rectifier Corporation Semiconductor Systems Division." Although officially described by the U.S. Naval Research laboratory and NASA as scientific satellites intended to report on solar radiation, SOLRAD's use as SIGINT (signals intelligence) spy satellites has been widely accepted by the general public. Nonetheless, SOLRAD 1 produced some important scientific data regarding the effects of solar radiation on the Earth's atmosphere. SOLRAD 1 was launched June 22, 1960, and is still in orbit.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
