Solar Panel from the Original Skynet Satellite

Curved Satellite Solar Panel from 1967, identified by flickr folk below as a perfect match for Skynet 1, a British military communications satellite launched in 1969 to geosynchronous orbit. It was spin stabilized with a mechanically de-spun antenna platform. Two X-band communications channels (at 2 MHz and 20 MHz). Two satellites were built for the UK (1A and 1B) and two very similar satellites were built for NATO, 2A and 2B. The contract awards were near my birthday, March 1967. (Refs. NASA, Gunter’s)

Spectrolab provided solar cells since the late 1950’s working with Philco-Ford in Palo Alto (renamed Space Systems Loral). Spectrolab also produced the Apollo 11 solar panel deployed on the moon.

Some analysis supports the argument that Skynet 1A is still up there, at 105 West in the GEO ring.

32″ x 21″ and stamped “Solar Panel No. 4—X, 42-A10017-03 Assy.,” and “Philco-Ford P/N 82-174507-03, Spectrolab, A Textron Company, Spectrolab S/N 015994, Panel Weight 2.72 lbs.”

Product stamps in comments below. An artifact in the Future Ventures 🚀 Space Collection.