What is the Apollo Telescope Mount?
The Apollo Telescope Mount was a solar observatory attached to the Skylab space station. It operated as part of the late 1960s Apollo Applications Program and launched in the early 1970s.
Questions about Apollo Telescope Mount
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did astronauts operate the Apollo Telescope Mount?
Astronauts manually operated the Apollo Telescope Mount during missions in 1973 and 1974. They recorded over 150,000 successful exposures on film throughout these operations.
Where can I view the spare unit of the Apollo Telescope Mount today?
A restored backup ATM spare unit is displayed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, US since 2015. The exhibit features repaired Kapton layers from the original hardware.
Who manages the design and construction of the Apollo Telescope Mount?
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center managed the design and construction of the Apollo Telescope Mount. Engineers actively cooled the system to maintain instrument temperatures within specific ranges.
How much power do the solar panels provide for the Apollo Telescope Mount?
Four external solar panels deployed into an X shape after launch and provided around 30% of the station's total electrical power. These windmill-like arrays fed power to both the observatory and the station until the main workshop array could be deployed.