Retrospective of photography at NASA Ames Research Center from 1940 to 1996 (Extended Abstract)

Bernard G. Ponseggi

doi:10.1117/12.273363

28 May 1997 Retrospective of photography at NASA Ames Research Center from 1940 to 1996 (Extended Abstract)

Bernard G. Ponseggi

Proceedings Volume 2869, 22nd International Congress on High-Speed Photography and Photonics; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.273363
Event: 22nd International Congress on High-Speed Photography and Photonics, 1996, Santa Fe, NM, United States

Abstract

This paper deals with what is known as photo/optical instrumentation technology and/or technical photography. In 1940 this was called photography, in the late 40's the Civil Service Commission introduced a new classification called photography/technical to differentiate between still photographers and those engaging in recording engineering data. In October of 1958 a historic event took place, Congress transferred all of the duties of NACA to a newly formed agency called NASA, and with it came a call for systems that would keep up with new requirements. There was a need to change the type and style of equipment to keep up with the demands for more accurate information. Existing hardware was modified and new hardware was developed and designed to meet the new requirements of space travel of manned and unmanned orbital vehicles. This family of equipment had to withstand the rigors of space travel such as extremely high `G' forces, temperature changes and `O' gravity, while on earth we needed equipment to document launch of space vehicles as well as wind tunnel testing, rocket sled stands etc.. Some requirements were similar to those of launch vehicles, some were totally different and had other requirements, eventually they were all resolved. As electronic data systems became available NASA experimented with their use in data acquisition. This portion of this session will discuss the changes over the years and their effect on the acquisition of data, those that worked, as well as those that were a disappointment.

Citation Download Citation

Bernard G. Ponseggi "Retrospective of photography at NASA Ames Research Center from 1940 to 1996 (Extended Abstract)", Proc. SPIE 2869, 22nd International Congress on High-Speed Photography and Photonics, (28 May 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.273363

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KEYWORDS

Photography

Cameras

Imaging systems

Data acquisition

Systems modeling

Digital recording

Manufacturing

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