Solar cell technology, used first on Vanguard I (1958), Explorer VII (1959) and GRAB (1960) powered the first satellites. Design criteria used in building these satellites focused on the systems’ performance in space. While in terrestrial environments solar panels deteriorate, powder and crack. The satellites in the NASM collection illustrate the technological developments of spacecraft from the very inception of the space program representing icons of the Space Race. The technology used in these satellites served as a base for designing laboratory testing and materials analysis. Cement used for mounting solar cells, Saureisen, was examined to understand the mechanism of its deterioration. The ultimate goal was to help museums to preserve spacecraft objects. Polarized light microscopy, MS (Mass Spectrometry), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and FTIR-ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) showed the same chemical composition in mounting cement in test satellites, confirming that they were backups of those launched in space. Analysis also revealed that deterioration occurred both at surfaces and in the body of the tested material indicating a combination of factors as degradation triggers. This study, to the author’s knowledge, is the first attempt to analyze and understand the materials which were used in the early satellites and the mechanisms of their damage. Developing analytical protocols is in progress and new methods are being considered for future studies.