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National Air and Space Museum Archives
Baker-Nunn Satellite Tracking Collection
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NASM.2012.0014
- Creators:
-
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
- Dates:
-
bulk 1965-1983
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
9.46 Cubic feet(8 boxes)
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of 8 cubic feet of documentation on the Baker-Nunn camera, including the following types of material: drawings, photographs, manuals and reports, and memorandums and correspondence
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
The Baker-Nunn Camera, designed by James Baker and Joseph Nunn, was created to observe both natural and man-made satellites orbiting at a great altitude. This high-precision telescopic tracking camera was used by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) to track artificial satellites from the 1950s to mid-1970s. The SAO set up a highly successful optical tracking system using a network of Baker-Nunn cameras at twelve tracking stations located in Argentina, Australia, Curacao, India, Iran, Japan, Peru, South Africa, Spain, and at three sites in the United States.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) via Space History Division, NASM, Gift, 2012
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
Baker-Nunn Satellite Tracking Collection, Accession 2012-0014, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker-Nunn camera | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Artificial satellites -- Optical observations | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Artificial satellites -- Tracking | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Astronautics | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Correspondence | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Manuals | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Photographic prints | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Air and Space Museum Archives
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
NASMRefDesk@si.edu
