The propulsion system centers around a cylindrical tank with domed ends. In this view, we see one of those domed ends in the center of the photo. There's a flat ring encircling the tank part way down. In this photo, we see the ring face-on. Three triangular frameworks extend outwards from the ring, equally spaced. At the end of each triangular frame is a cluster of small thruster nozzles.
ReturnIn this side view, we see the tank. It's roughly cylindrical, with sides that bow out slightly and with domed ends. It's overall color is grey or silver metal, but with some red markers. The ring that encircles the tank is near the bottom. The triangular frameworks that we saw in the aft view are also shown here. The thruster clusters hang down below, approximately level with the bottom of the tank.
ReturnThis page has 2 pictures. One is a view of the COBE satellite on orbit with solar panels deployed. The other is a view of the launch.
The upper part of the satellite is a cylindrical metal tank. The exposed end of the tank has 2 openings in it.
One opening is circular, the other is sort of keyhole-shaped. A gold-colored sun shield surrounds the tank. In the drawing, it's cut away so that we can see the tank. The sides of the shield slope, so that at the top end, it's spread open and is far from the tank, while at the bottom end it touches the tank. Overall, the sunshade looks like a hollow truncated cone.
The bottom section of the spacecraft, just below the tank and sunshade, has flat sides, rather than being cylilndrical. In fact, it has 6 sides, of which we can see 3. Each side has several horizontal slits cut in it.
The spacecraft has 3 wings of solar panels. In the drawing, we can see 2; the other is hidden behind spacecraft. Each solar wing has 3 panels all in a row. Each panel is about the same size as one side of the bottom part of the satellite. In fact, the panels fitted up next to the satellite sides when the wings were folded for launch.
Speaking of launch, the other picture shows COBE lifting off on a Delta rocket. The rocket has not yet cleared the tower. The Delta launch tower looks solid, unlike the old framework towers from the Apollo days. A large sign on the tower says "Delta".
Flames are spouting from the bottom of the Delta rocket. The smoke and flames almost hide the strap-on boosters at the bottom of the rocket. Aside from the strap-ons, the rocket is pretty much a uniform cylinder from bottom to the nose cone at the top. Some parts of the rocket are grey metal, some are painted white. Painted on the side of the rocket are the triangular "Delta" logo and the COBE logo (which features a drawing of the COBE spacecraft.)
ReturnThis is a close-up view of a COBE bolometer. We see only part of the metal ring that supports the active element. We can also see wires coming in from the top, appearing large at this scale.
ReturnThis view shows more of the apparatus than the previous photo. We can see the same metal ring with the wire leads. Grouped with that ring are 5 other rings or disks of the same diameter. Also shown is a housing, which is larger. The housing has a disk base, with a narrow center rising from it and a larger cylinder atop that.
ReturnYou can't see a whole lot in this photo. The details of the sensor are inside the housing, which is roughly cylindrical and bare metal in color. From the top of the cylinder is a short rod with a small square piece atop that.
ReturnThe Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) Detector is shown in its housing. The housing is a square box, bare metal in color. There's an electronic connector on the end.
DThe background of this skymap is a sort of blotchy blue. Stretching from one side to the other is an irregular ark in which red and yellow patches and streamers stretch across the background.
DThe COBE test dewar is a cylinder10 to 12 feet high, a few feet in diameter. It has reinforcing rings at about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way up. Near the top, electrical connectors ring the dewar. The label "COBE ITD" identifies the test dewar.
ReturnWe see the dewar in a clean room, being maneuvered into place by 2 workers in clean room suits ("bunny suits"). The dewar is a few feet taller than a person. It's roughly cylindrical, with a domed top. Most of the dewar is painted white, but the bottom is shiny bare metal.
ReturnWe see the dewar in a clean room, being maneuvered into place by 2 workers in clean room suits ("bunny suits"). The dewar is a few feet taller than a person. It's roughly cylindrical, with a domed top. Most of the dewar is painted white, but the bottom is shiny bare metal.
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