Mystery component please help identify.

[CaptNJack]

This is in a sterile glass vacuum storage container. I have reason to believe it is a satellite part. It has 3 leads with one marked -k. It is at least 10+ years old. It looks hand made.

It is simply driving me crazy. What is it? What are those resistor looking things?

[CaptNJack]

Here is a more detailed pic:

[CaptNJack]

Top view:

[bd139]

Looks like glass encapsulated ceramic resistors to me.

[CaptNJack]

Hmm based on your reply and Google maybe a thermistor?  And glass encapsulated for space...

[bd139]

I doubt it's a thermistor.

If it is a satellite part, in space applications, if you want to dump some current somewhere, it will get turned into heat. Problem is you can't use forced air cooling or convection because there isn't any air. Ergo dumping some current into these and leaving it to radiate off instead or conduct or convent is ideal. This is optimised for radiation versus conduction or convection.