NASA Special Collection Database

Category Electronics

Description 9.25" X 5.5" X 4" Model 49TA, Digital-Thermometer, 20-43C, 68-109F, Scientific Division, Yellow springs Instrument Co., Inc. Blue and cream steel encased unit with Celsius and Fahrenheit dial. Unit has jack for probe and screen for a read-out. Model 497A, Serial 1099 located on the bottom. Steel handle, white sticker on back; 105407-5. Instructions on unit operating instructions located on the back. Four white rubber feet on the back. Accessories includes HOBO XT yellow leads encases in white Velcro 2X2" packs connected four in a row with four rows. multicolored wires are included in three of the rows. Three extra meters included belonging to no packs or rows. Item is in good condition.

Barcode 31315005275065

Provenance Shipped from LBJ Space Center in Houston Texas. Currently Held at the Orland Park Public Library NASA Special Collection. Not flown. Item is part of order #10

Purpose Temperature is one of the biggest obstacles to space travel. Shuttles, for example, need to withstand not only the heat of launch and reentry but also the intense cold of vacuum space, where matter is too little and far between to transfer heat energy. Considering also the many delicate experiments and astronaut health checks that take place regularly during and while preparing for space missions, accurate temperature measurements and instrumentation are vital to NASA.

For more information:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/blog/2013/5/infrared-ear-thermometer

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html