Atlas missile telemetering unit used to report the health and operational state of the launch vehicle/missile during flight, measuring 10.5″ in diameter with a height of 14″, with a Convair Astronautics label on the side: "Accessory Unit No. 11, Telemetering…Part No. 27-12581809, Ser. No. SN3080039…Contract No. AF046942311."
The Convair Astronautics Division of General Dynamics built the first Atlas ICBMs, 1957-1966; the first operational missile, the Atlas D, was the basis for launching the Mercury manned spacecraft into orbit. Mercury-Atlas 1—deemed a complete failure—carried a 16-channel telemetry system. About one minute after liftoff all contact with the Atlas was lost, including telemetry and all beacons and transponders.
