Film development in space and the first photos of the far side of the moon

[philipus]

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Not sure if anyone else here reads "Damninteresting", but there was recently a fascinating article about how the US Genetrix high-altitude spy balloon programme ended up accidentally providing the film which the Soviets used to take the first photos of the far side of the moon and 'fax' them back to Earth, having duly developed the film in space onboard the Lunik 3 probe.

 

Damninteresting.com | Faxes from the far side

 

br

philip

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[chrism]

That's absolutely fascinating! Thank you.

 

Chris

[chris_livsey]

I did dig a little on the film 

 

Stated as Isochrome, that was a name used by Agfa in BW Isochrom, made at that time, indeed it had evolved as an emulsion through several sub types, it seemed odd USA would be using Agfa and not Kodak though?

[philipus]

That's very interesting Chris. Thank you.

 

I did dig a little on the film 

 

Stated as Isochrome, that was a name used by Agfa in BW Isochrom, made at that time, indeed it had evolved as an emulsion through several sub types, it seemed odd USA would be using Agfa and not Kodak though?

[Chuck Albertson]

Great article. The US used the same method (as for the balloon cameras) to retrieve film pods from the Corona and early Keyhole satellites. If you're near London, the "Cosmonauts" exhibit at the Science Museum has a couple more months to run, and might even have a model of Lunik 3 as part of the exhibit (saw the exhibit in September, but don't recall all of the equipment on display). It has the Soviet version of a lunar lander for their manned space program.

 

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cosmonauts.aspx

[AlanG]

I have a friend who is a physicist and works for the CIA. He told me he "designs telescopes that look down." When I asked for details, he said the only thing declassified that he could tell me was that they were not using film any more.

[philipus]

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Very interesting, thanks Chuck. I'm always amazed when I see equipment from the early days of space exploration. It looks DIY and home-built (which in a way it was). The first astro- and kosmonauts were brave people. 

 

Great article. The US used the same method (as for the balloon cameras) to retrieve film pods from the Corona and early Keyhole satellites. If you're near London, the "Cosmonauts" exhibit at the Science Museum has a couple more months to run, and might even have a model of Lunik 3 as part of the exhibit (saw the exhibit in September, but don't recall all of the equipment on display). It has the Soviet version of a lunar lander for their manned space program.

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cosmonauts.aspx

[philipus]

What? CIA is against film?

 

I have a friend who is a physicist and works for the CIA. He told me he "designs telescopes that look down." When I asked for details, he said the only thing declassified that he could tell me was that they were not using film any more.