Photography Apollo

The results obtained (Lowman, 1969) proved the value of multispectral photo- 

Plate A (Ektachrome infrared, orange filter). The topographic details are not well contrasted since the plant cover is scanty. On the other hand, patches of land under cultivation contrast sharply with neighboring areas and with each other. 

Plate B (Panatomic X, green filter). Many details appear at the foot of the eastern mountains. The dunes in the Yuma region are clear, but less so than on plate D. The rendering of crops is only mediocre. 

Plate C (black and white infrared, very dark red filter). Many erosion gullies can be seen as well as very wet soils (rivers are dark black) crops show up in detail but less clearly than on plate A. 

Plate D (Panatomic X, red filter). The cultivated areas are uniformly monotonous. On the other hand, topographic features show up strikingly. 

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NASA organized these photographic missions with an eye to terrestrial resources. Apollo 9, for instance, was the only satellite that carried out a systematic multi-spectral photography experiment. The spaceship carried an assembly of four cameras attached to one of the portholes. These were Hasselblads 500 EL with Zeiss //2.8 objectives, having a focal length of 80 mm. The shutters were manually operated. The four cameras were loaded with ... 

Lowman, P. D. 1969, Apollo 9 Multispectral Photography Geologic Analysis, Goddard Space Flight Center, X-644-69-423, Greenbelt, Md. 

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