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Flashing Light Unit

Flashing Light Unit (center) with deployer [NASA]

This small subsatellite ejected from the Mercury MA-9 space craft is known mostly as Flashing Light Subsatellite or Flashing Light Unit.

It weighted only 5 kg and contained batteries and two Xe-Flash lights. The purpose was to test the visual acquisition of other space vehicles by the astronaut.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Rendezvous Target
Operator: NASA
Contractors:
Equipment: 2 Xe-Flash lights, batteries
Configuration:
Propulsion: None
Power: Batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 5 kg
Orbit:
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Flashing Light Unit 1963-015# 15.05.1963 CC LC-14 Atlas-D Mercury with Mercury MA9, Balloon Subsat 2

References:

  • NASA
Further Mercury missions:

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