Thanks to the Smithsonian
Institute
edcwww.cr.usgs.govThe NASA Space Shuttle program has been actively involved in the
collection of photographs of the Earth since 1981. Space Shuttle astronauts have taken
over 125,000 photographs with hand-held and Shuttle-mounted cameras, including the
Hasselblad 500 EL/M 70mm, the Linhof Aero Technika 45 127mm and the Large Format Camera
(LFC).
The Space Shuttle Earth Observation Project (SSEOP) office
is responsible for planning film acquisitions for each shuttle mission and for training
the astronauts to use the cameras. The SSEOP office also maintains and populates the
Shuttle data base which catalogs all shuttle photography. Roughly 85 percent of the
acquired Shuttle photographs are Earth looking views. The rest of the photographs may
involve satellite deployments, extravehicular activities and photographs within the
Shuttle.
Most of the photographs are in natural color, although limited amounts of black and white
and color infrared-film have also been acquired. The Shuttle archive reflects the unique
parameters for each mission. The LFC was flown on only one flight, aboard Shuttle mission
41-G (October 5-13, 1984).
The LFC payload consisted of a camera system mounted inside the shuttle cargo bay. The
film magazine was preloaded with 2400 frames of five different types of 9-by-18 inch high
definition film (color-infrared, natural color, and three types of black and white film).
The LFC weighed over 3400 lbs and was operated by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)
personnel. Camera commands were relayed from JSC through the TDRSS satellites to the LFC
to acquire coverage over previously
identified areas of opportunity. Principal Investigator Bernard H. Molberg coordinated the
requirements for the LFC experiment among nearly 200 investigators worldwide. Forward
overlap of 80, 70, 60, and 10 percent was acquired. This overlap provides stereo mapping
capabilities for many sites around the world. Mission 41-G lasted only nine days, but over
2000 frames of photography were acquired during the mission. The LFC has been
decommissioned, but the mission to collect earth-looking photography continues with each
Shuttle flight through the use of the Hasselblad and Linhof cameras.
Extent of Coverage
The Shuttle-acquired photography is limited to the orbital constraints of the Shuttle and
mission specific parameters. Those parameters typically span from 28 degrees north and
south latitude to 57 degrees north and south latitude. Future film acquisitions depend
upon the mission schedules. On the average, six shuttle missions are flown each year. The
Appendix includes a list of the first 55 missions and their Shuttle #, Mission #,
Launch/Land Dates, and Orbiter Name.
The LFC mission included film acquisitions that were collected from October 5 to October
13, 1984. The extent of the orbital range was 57 degrees north to 57 degrees south
latitude.
Data Characteristics
The Shuttle archive consists of 70 mm, 127 mm, and 9-by-18 inch (LFC) film. The archive
contains predominantly natural color imagery and is supported by 16 mm browse microfilm,
mission flight catalogs and a computer data base.
Sample Shuttle Images
Space Shuttle Earth Observation Program
Florida (51-I Sept. 1, 1985) E-1903-CT (13.1 kb)
Greenland (STS45 Mar. 29, 1992) (10.7 kb)
Somalia (STS31 Apr. 29, 1990) (16.4 kb)
Sudan (STS31 Apr. 25, 1990) (15.1 kb)
Nile Delta (STS37 Apr. 6, 1991) (15.6 kb)
Shuttle Bay (STS43 Aug. 8, 1991) (13 kb)
Algeria (S13 Apr. 7, 1984) (18.4 kb)
Elena (STS20 Jan. 26, 1985) E-1804-CT (14.2 kb)
Boston LFC (41G Oct. 7, 1984) (37.1 kb)
Spatial Resolution
The Shuttle photography ground resolution is 150 meters for the Hasselblad 100 mm lens and
30 meters for the Linhof and Hasselblad 250 mm lens. Ground resolution for the LFC
photography ranges from 20 to 30 meters.
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Data Organization
The Shuttle photographs are very mission dependent. Each flight mission is a unique
opportunity to capture Earth-looking photography as the flight schedule allows and as the
orbital conditions permit. The film archive is annotated with mission code, roll number
and frame number. Ephemeris data are used to index the photography by calculating the
nominal geographic position of the Shuttle when the pictures are taken. Consequently, if
the camera is pointed toward the Earth the calculated nadir point of the shuttle will be
very close to the geographical center of the photograph. The correlation of the orbit time
with the geographic location of the photo is now a standard part of the film annotation as
recorded by the camera. Data Availability
LFC film products are distributed only by the EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD.
The rest of the Shuttle photography is distributed by the EROS Data Center; the Earth Data
Analysis Center (EDAC),
Albuquerque, NM; and NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) Houston, TX.
The GLIS REMOTE (Related Sites) option also includes an access route to the Space Shuttle
Earth Observation Program (SSEOP) data base maintained by NASA JSC. This data base is
indexed by latitude/longitude and geographic feature name for all earth-looking
photography acquired by the Shuttle program.
Procedures for Obtaining Data
To place orders and to obtain additional information regarding technical details and
Shuttle pricing schedules, contact:
Customer Services, EROS Data Center
Earth Data Analysis Center
NASA/JSC Media Services Branch
Online requests for these data can be placed via the USGS Global Land Information System
(GLIS) interactive query system.
The GLIS system contains metadata and online samples of Earth science data. With GLIS, you
may review metadata, determine product availability, and place online requests for
products.
Products and Services
The Shuttle products are limited to analog film and photographic enlargements. Each
distribution site varies in the products and services they provide. For example, the EROS
Data Center provides positive contact film of the photography; NASA/JSC offers custom
enlargements, black-and-white products, and slides; while the Earth Data Analysis Center
(formally the Technology Application Center, TAC) provides a full range of standard
enlargements, film transparencies, slide sets, and unique posters.
NASA's JSC has generated a video laser disk for Shuttle missions STS1 to STS44 that is
available through:
NASA Johnson Space Center
Another video laser disk is also available for Shuttle Missions STS1 to STS61 from the
following commercial source:
Smithsonian Institution Press
Applications and Related Data Sets
The Shuttle photography may compliment the coverage of aerial photography and satellite
imagery by providing additional views of a study area. The various sun angles, times of
year, atmospheric conditions, repeated coverage, and consistent camera systems have
recorded a unique collection of photographs. They may be useful to atmospheric scientists,
earth scientists and cartographers.
References
NASA, JSC, "Large Format Camera Payload" Research and Engineering Directorate,
1984, Houston, Texas.
NASA, JSC, "Mission Ephemeris, the Maiden Voyage of LFC Aboard Mission 41-G"
1985, Houston, Texas.
NASA, JSC, "Space Shuttle Earth Observations Photography" brochure 1987,
Houston, Texas. |
