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The sign by the Lunar Orbiter test article. It reads


LUNAR ORBITER
(test article)

The mission of the the Lunar Orbiters was to photograph the Moon to aid in the selection of landing sites for Apollo astronauts. Five Lunar Orbiters were launched in 1966 and 1967. They photographed about 95 percent of the Moon's surface - more than 36 million square kilometers (14 million square miles). The photos were converted to electronic signals and transmitted to Earth.

The Lunar Orbiter exhibited here was used for ground tests.

Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in)
Diameter: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Width (antenna): 5.6 m (18 ft 6 in)
Weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
Manufacturer: Boeing Aerospace Co.
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Agena D

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


The Lunar Orbiter test article is NASM catalog #A19700318000.

A Lunar Orbiter engineering model is also displayed by the Virginia Air & Space Center.

 
Exploring the Moon Gallery at National Air & Space Museum
Time picture taken Sat Jun 25 12:02:08 2011
Location picture taken Second Floor Balcony
Overlooking Space Race Gallery
National Air & Space Museum
Washington, DC
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