Kodak's Apollo Lunar Surface Close-up Camera (ALSCC) at 50 years

laser · Jul 20, 2019

I was fortunate to be assigned to work on the ALSCC in 1969. To celebrate the anniversary Kodak sponsored an event where i was interviewed by the press. I thought APUGers might be interested in the interview so here is a link:

https://www.democratandchronicle.co...all-moon-landing-apollo-andreatta/1780517001/

The stereo camera photographed a 3x3 inch patch of the lunar surface using an electronic flash and recorded the image on Ektachrome Film. The film was returned to Houston for processing. It flew on Apollo 11, 12,13, and 14.
The camera worked beautifully yielding stereo pairs. No pictures from Apollo 13, the camera burned up and is on the bottom of the ocean near the Fiji Islands.

For the 50th anniversary I wrote 13-page description of the camera and the camera project.

If anyone sends an email to:

makingKODAKfilm@yahoo.com

with ALSCC on the subject line I'll try to send them a email copy, no charge.

Bob Shanebrook
makingKODAKfilm.com

AgX · Jul 21, 2019

As a child I constructed the Apollo 11 landing vehicle from a 1/72 Airfix kit that yielded the vehicle, a round piece of the Moon surface, the astronauts and things they placed on the Moon. That camera was not included. However I just found a 1/48 Revell kit that includes that camera...

Toyo · Jul 21, 2019

Great gesture Bob.
Thank you
T

Photo Engineer · Jul 21, 2019

Congratulations Bob.

I have that photo on the wall of our family room, as Bob can attest. I was asked to make a set of these prints on the new Ektacolor 30 paper, so we made a special run and I ran the prints (16x20) through our Calument Jr. processor with the new process.

I still have some of the internegatives around here.

PE

BrianShaw · Jul 21, 2019

Fascinating and well-written article; thanks! So far just skimmed but can’t wait to read every word!

Question: you stated that there were 2 flight cameras per mission. We’re there additional qualification articles too? In other words, what was the total production? If there were others where are they?

Also, did the design evolve or remain stable through the various missions?

I love the idea of a return-to-sender label!

laser · Jul 21, 2019

BrianShaw said:
Fascinating and well-written article; thanks! So far just skimmed but can’t wait to read every word!

Question: you stated that there were 2 flight cameras per mission. We’re there additional qualification articles too? In other words, what was the total production? If there were others where are they?

There were 2 made available per flight in case it was damaged. I heard today that during a walk through a NASA manager damaged a camera before a flight. Where are the extras: do you remember "Raiders of the Lost Ark" warehouse?

Also, did the design evolve or remain stable through the various missions?
I am aware of making the base broader to avoid tip-overs, tilting the handle a few degrees to make it easier to hold, and adding a dust cover that allowed the ALSCC to stay out side between multiple EVA on the surface. Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong tested the camera on Earth using their flight gloves and didn't any problems. After the flight they requested the base and handle change, There is no testing like the real thing.

The operational design and the mechanics and electrical components all worked fine so there was no reason to make changes to them. Do it right the first time. The pre-flight reliability testing was comprehensive so there were few surprises.

I love the idea of a return-to-sender label!

BrianShaw · Jul 21, 2019

Thanks for the additional info, Bob.

Kodak's Apollo Lunar Surface Close-up Camera (ALSCC) at 50 years

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Kodak's Apollo Lunar Surface Close-up Camera (ALSCC) at 50 years

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