Object of the Day

Space Shuttle Microcasette Recorder

January 16

This battery-powered microcasette tape recorder flew as crew equipment on 14 Space Shuttle missions from 1990-1996. Astronauts used these handy devices to listen to music and messages from home as well as to record their observations.

Microcasette Recorder, Space Shuttle

Summary
This battery-powered microcasette tape recorder flew as crew equipment on 14 Space Shuttle missions from 1990-1996. Astronauts use these handy devices to record their observations of experiments, problems encountered in flight, and other mission activities. They might also use them to listen to music, procedures, or messages from home. Like cameras, this is a commercial product adopted for use in space. As electronic equipment becomes more compact and more capable, NASA retires older pieces like this one to use more advanced versions. NASA transferred this tape recorder to the Museum in 2005, probably because it was replaced with a digital recorder.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Manufacturer
Olympus
Credit Line
Transferred from NASA, Johnson Space Center.
Materials
Adhesive, anodized aluminum, decals, copper, electronics, metal, plastic, scotch tape, vinyl
Dimensions
3-D (L x W x H) (width when cass closed): 11.4 × 6.4 × 1.9cm (4 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 3/4 in.)
Other (when case is open): 14cm (5 1/2 in.)
Type
EQUIPMENT-Miscellaneous