"Sacred Cow" Space Relic

Part of the Douglas VC-54C "Sacred Cow" was flown on Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-83, April 4-8, 1997. The items were flown on the mission in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. On July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 while on board the Sacred Cow. This act established the Air Force as an independent service, making the Sacred Cow the "birthplace" of the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Discoverer XLIII (43) Parachute Fragment

The Discoverer/Corona satellite program was the first successful reconnaissance satellite program operated by the United States of America. The Discoverer program was operated by the U.S. Air Force and was described as a satellite technology development effort, but primarily served as cover for a secret reconnaissance satellite project (Corona) operated by the Central Intelligence Agency. Discoverer/Corona satellites made use of recoverable film canisters which were recovered in midair during a parachute descent by specially equipped U.S. Air Force C-119 recovery aircraft. This parachute fragment was autographed by all crewmen on board and is dated (handwritten) "June 1, 1962 16:15 Local." The mission was not successful since the aircraft was not able to catch the film capsule during its descent. The donor was the flight engineer on board that aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Northrop OV2-5 Space Satellite

The OV2-5 was designed for solar, magnetic and cosmic ray research in space. On Sept. 28, 1968, it was boosted from the ground by a Titan III launch vehicle into a circular equatorial orbit at an altitude of 22,000 miles above the Earth. It was designed with an operating life in space of at least one year. (U.S. Air Force photo)

International Space Station Commemorative Coin

This gold commemorative coin shows the International Space Station and space shuttle. It contains metal from the unity node flown on Mission STS-88. (U.S. Air Force photo)

X-15 Pressure Suit

The X-15 pressure suit represented a major advance in pressure suit technology. (U.S. Air Force photo)

X-15 Pressure Suit

The X-15 pressure suit represented a major advance in pressure suit technology. (U.S. Air Force photo)