Orbiter Camera Was Designed: The Lunar Orbiter Camera was designed to take medium- and high-resolution pictures simultaneously, using a dual lens. Each high-resolution frame was within the field of view of a medium-resolution image, and many of the medium-resolution frames overlapped to permit stereoscopic viewing. From an altitude of 25 mi (40 km) the Camera system could take pictures showing objects as small as 3 ft (0.9 m) across (high-resolution) and 27 ft (8.2 m) across (medium-resolution). In comparison, the smallest lunar features that can be seen through telescopes on the earth are about 1/2 mi (805 m) across.
The photographs were made by orienting the Lunar Orbiter to point at the desired target and then exposing a portion of 70 mm film. To prevent blurring due to motion of the spacecraft, the Camera automatically moved its film during an exposure according to signals from a device that monitored the height and velocity of the vehicle.
The Ermanox Camera was soon replaced by the mo Flexible 35mm film camera, which had the advantage th it was smaller and enabled the photographer to tal thirty-six negatives in rapid succession on a single loai ing of inexpensive standard motion-picture film. Ti first Camera of this type to become popular with amateu and professionals alike was the Leica, designed just b fore World War I by Oskar Barnack, a mechanic in tl experimental workshop of the optical firm of E.
|
|
Photography
