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Mystery Satellite/Probe
Astro0
post Jun 16 2013, 09:34 AM
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Going through a bunch of old boxes at work, I came across this model (possibly incomplete) of an early satellite or probe.
I can't find any details for it. Can anyone help identify it?

Attached Image


Many thanks
Astro0
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Paolo
post Jun 16 2013, 09:38 AM
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could be a TETR satellite http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tts.htm
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ElkGroveDan
post Jun 16 2013, 02:25 PM
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It looks a lot like the Pollux part of the French Castor/Pollux micro-satellite pair.
Attached thumbnail(s)
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tasp
post Jun 16 2013, 02:56 PM
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Does your company have a history as a probe (or probe model) builder ?

(don't divulge any information in a public forum you're not comfortable with)
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Astro0
post Jun 16 2013, 10:49 PM
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EGD: It looks a lot like the Pollux part of the French Castor/Pollux micro-satellite pair.

It's very similar. Can't imagine why we'd have a model of it.
There are boxes of part of spacecraft in our archive. Some are easily identified - Ranger, Surveyor, Apollo, Pioneer, Mariner etc
This one is a bit of a mystery though. The Caster/Pollux looks close.
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Airbag
post Jun 17 2013, 07:08 PM
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This link has an Australian connection but all I can see is the first page, no images...

Airbag
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Astro0
post Jun 17 2013, 10:27 PM
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Thanks Air. I don't think that's it though.
The model is 16 sided with solar arrays on each face yet I'm pretty sure that there are missing parts.

If I don't find out what it is, it's not really an issue. Just curious as to what it was and possibly why we have a model of it in our archive.
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skyrocket71
post Jun 19 2013, 05:20 PM
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QUOTE (Astro0 @ Jun 18 2013, 12:27 AM) *
Thanks Air. I don't think that's it though.
The model is 16 sided with solar arrays on each face yet I'm pretty sure that there are missing parts.

If I don't find out what it is, it's not really an issue. Just curious as to what it was and possibly why we have a model of it in our archive.


The model seems to be quit crude. It is certainly not Pollux, as this one is not symetrical to it's "equator"

I have found two satellite types, which are quite similar, but not identical:


But perhaps, as this model is not quite rich in details, it might have represented one of those satellites.

best regards
Gunter
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ElkGroveDan
post Jun 19 2013, 05:41 PM
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QUOTE (skyrocket71 @ Jun 19 2013, 10:20 AM) *
It is certainly not Pollux, as this one is not symetrical to it's "equator"

The representation of Pollux above is an oblique view, which I "certainly" understood when I proposed it and assumed others would understand as well. I'm not asserting that it is Pollux, but I have more sense than to propose something with an entirely different geometric shape. Here is another image of the frame of Pollux mounted to Castor absent its external panels, and appearing quite, "symmetrical to it's equator." [sic]
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djellison
post Jun 19 2013, 05:44 PM
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QUOTE (skyrocket71 @ Jun 19 2013, 10:20 AM) *
The model seems to be quit crude. It is certainly not Pollux, as this one is not symetrical to it's "equator"


Perhaps I'm missing something - but it seems fairly symmetrical - and features around the 'equator' of the model match the image that Dan provided of Pollux.

To me - it looks like what someone would make as a model of Pollux - before the design of Pollux itself was actually finished.
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Paolo
post Jun 19 2013, 05:46 PM
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QUOTE (skyrocket71 @ Jun 19 2013, 07:20 PM) *
But perhaps, as this model is not quite rich in details, it might have represented one of those satellites.


why not TETR?
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mcaplinger
post Jun 19 2013, 07:18 PM
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QUOTE (Paolo @ Jun 19 2013, 10:46 AM) *
why not TETR?

Because TETR was octagonal and this has more faces.


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Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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djellison
post Jun 19 2013, 08:34 PM
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QUOTE (Paolo @ Jun 19 2013, 09:46 AM) *
why not TETR?


Because it's not TETR. Just look at a photo of TETR.
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Astro0
post Jun 19 2013, 11:19 PM
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OK, I'm going to settle for EGD's interpretation of it being a version of the Castor/Pollux satellite after seeing that latest image.
The stacked configuration makes sense for some of the features on the model.

Why we have a model of it is a complete mystery.
For now though I think it's case closed.

Thanks all for your input.
Astro0 smile.gif
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