“6_2_10.TXT” (8257 bytes) was created on 02-21-89<\/p>\n
SPACE SHUTTLE EARTH OBSERVATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Astronauts have used hand-held cameras to photograph the Earth for
\nnearly 25 years, beginning with the Mercury missions in the early
\n1960s. Since 1981, Space Shuttle astronauts have taken more than
\n37,000 photographs with the Hasselblad Model 500 EL\/M and the Aero
\nLinhof Technika 45 hand-held cameras. About 85 percent of these
\nphotographs are Earth-looking views. The rest show satellite
\ndeployments, extravehicular activities, and astronaut activities in
\nthe cabin.<\/p>\n
Astronauts are trained in scientific observation of geological,
\noceanographic, environmental and meteorological phenomena. They are
\nalso instructed in the use of photographic techniques and equipment.
\nTraining helps the astronauts make informed decisions on which areas
\nand phenomena to photograph. Specific areas of scientific interest are
\nselected before each flight by a group of scientists. The astronauts
\nreceive intensive training and in-flight aids to help them locate
\nthese sites.<\/p>\n
PHOTOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS<\/p>\n
Most of the photographs are in natural color, although a limited
\namount of black-and-white film has been used with polarizing filters.
\nBeginning in 1963, a small about of color infrared film was tested on
\nsome missions.<\/p>\n
Three lenses (50 mm, 100 mm, and 250 mm) on the Hasselblad cameras and
\ntwo lenses (90 mm and 250 mm) on the Aero Linhof camera offer a wide
\nvariety of both areal coverage and spatial resolution. The Shuttle
\nflies at different altitudes; for example, on the first 24 missions,
\nthe altitude range was between 204 and 555 km (110 and 300 nautical
\nmiles), which adds to this variation. Table 1 offers a guideline to
\nthe areal coverage provided by the photographs.<\/p>\n
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\n TABLE 1 – APPROXIMATE DISTANCE ACROSS A VERTICAL
\n PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 296 KILOMETERS
\n (160 NAUTICAL MILES)<\/p>\n
———————————————————————-<\/p>\n
Camera Lens Distance<\/p>\n
Kilometers Nautical Miles<\/p>\n
Hasselblad 50 mm 325 175
\n 100 mm 165 90
\n 250 mm 65 35<\/p>\n
———————————————————————-<\/p>\n
Aero Linhof 90 mm 310 x 395 170 x 215
\n 250 mm 110 x 145 60 x 75<\/p>\n
======================================================================<\/p>\n
A rule of thumb is that 100-mm lens offers spatial resolution similar
\nto that of Landsat multispectral scanner (approximately 80 m) and the
\n25-mm lens has resolution similar to that of the Landsat thematic
\nmapper (approximately 30 m).<\/p>\n
For most Shuttle missions, the orbital tracks cover the tropical and
\ntemperate regions of the Earth between 28 degrees N. and 28 degrees S.
\nlatitude. Nine Space Transportation System (STS) missions have flown
\nat higher latitudes, with the orbits of STS Missions 9, 41-G, 51-B,
\nand 61-A extending to 57 degrees N. and 57 degrees S. latitude. Repeat
\ncoverage of an area is obtained by acquiring photography on several
\nmissions and\/or by taking photographs from different viewing angles
\nduring a single mission.<\/p>\n
As a result of the Earth’s rotation and the Shuttle’s orbit duration
\n(approximately 90 minutes), an area may be photographed at different
\nSun angles during a single mission.<\/p>\n
Stereoscopic coverage is available for a number of areas.<\/p>\n
USES OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY<\/p>\n
The Shuttle hand-held photography fills a niche between the coverage
\nprovided by aerial photography and that of unmanned satellite scanners
\nand complements these two familiar formats with additional
\ninformation. The ability of the trained astronaut to rapidly identify
\nand photograph important phenomena on the Earth makes the Shuttle
\nphotographs unique. Near-real-time information exchange with the crew
\nfacilitates the recording of current events of environmental,
\ngeological, oceanographic, and meteorological importance.<\/p>\n
Photographing at various Sun angles highlights different geologic
\nfeatures and takes advantage of sun glint to show intricate ocean
\nstructures and land\/water interfaces. Critical environmental
\nmonitoring sites are photographed repeatedly over time; some have
\nphotographic records dating back to the Gemini and Skylab missions.
\nEarth-limb pictures taken at sunrise and sunset document the changes
\nin the Earth’s atmospheric layering.Volcanic activity is monitored in
\ncooperation with the Scientific Event Alert Network of the Smithsonian
\nInstitution. Meteorological phenomena are monitored and photographed
\nduring Space Shuttle missions. Documentation of hurricanes,
\nthunderstorms, squall lines, island cloud wakes, and jet stream,
\ncomplements meteorological satellite data by offering better
\nresolution and stereoscopic coverage of such phenomena. The
\nphotographs can be used in geologic mapping and in updating existing
\nmaps.<\/p>\n
OBTAINING INFORMATION ON SPACE SHUTTLE HAND-HELD PHOTOGRAPHY<\/p>\n
Each frame of the hand-held Shuttle photography has a set of
\ndescriptors to help the user understand the photographic content. This
\ninformation is available in a set of catalogs or through an automated
\ndata base search.<\/p>\n
o CATALOGS – Catalogs of the photography for each Space Shuttle
\n mission can be obtained by contacting the Earth
\n Resources Observations System (EROS) Data Center.<\/p>\n
o DATA BASE – A computerized data base containing more than 15
\n descriptors for each frame of the Shuttle Earth-
\n looking photography has been compiled. A data base
\n query can be made through the EROS Data Center<\/p>\n
o VIEWING CENTERS –
\n The photographs can be viewed on microfilm at
\n National Cartographic Information Centers: the
\n Technology Application Center, University of New
\n Mexico; the Lunar Planetary Institute, Houston, TX,
\n and the Library of Congress, Washington DC.<\/p>\n
o VIDEO DISK – The Earth-viewing photography from the first 24 STS
\n missions is available on a video disk through the
\n Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.<\/p>\n
======================================================================<\/p>\n
O R D E R I N G P H O T O G R A P H S<\/p>\n
Prints, slides, and transparencies of STS Earth-looking photography
\nare distributed through three agencies. The primary source of the data
\nis:<\/p>\n
EROS DATA CENTER
\n User Services Section
\n Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57198
\n Phone: (605) 594-6151
\n FTS: 784-7151<\/p>\n
Other sources are:
\n TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS CENTER
\n University of New Mexico
\n Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
\n Phone: (505) 277-3622<\/p>\n
and<\/p>\n
MEDIA SERVICES BRANCH
\n Still Photography Library
\n NASA\/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
\n P.O. Box 58425, Mail Code AP3
\n Houston TX 77258-8425
\n Phone: (713) 483-4231<\/p>\n
A user may contact these agencies for ordering assistance, price
\nlists, and oder forms. To order a picture, submit the Shuttle mission
\nnumber, the film roll number, and the frame number.<\/p>\n
If the interest lies in a specific area, a listing of available
\nphotographs can be obtained through the EROS Data Center. submit the
\ngeographic name (i.e. country, island chain, ocean, or sea) and the
\nlatitude and longitude coordinates for the area of interest.<\/p>\n
The Space Shuttle Earth Observation Project Office recommends that a
\nuser visit one of the viewing centers to select the photograph best
\nsatisfying his or her requirements before ordering a photograph.<\/p>\n
======================================================================
\nNASA, SPACE SHUTTLE EARTH OBSERVATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY, JSC, Houston, TX,
\nJanuary 1987<\/p>\n
