posted 08-22-2019 08:57 AM               

The Discoverer XIII reentry capsule which, along with the capsule cover and parachute, was recovered north of Hawaii by the U.S. Navy on August 11, 1960, the first man-made object to be recovered from orbit. The satellite had been launched the previous day from Vandenberg AFB.

"Discoverer" was the cover name for the highly classified U.S. Air Force/Central Intelligence Agency Corona photo-reconnaissance satellite program so this lucite was likely produced by that agency. The National Air and Space Museum retains the rest of the spacecraft.

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