Unit and System Design of a Lunar Operating TV Camera

When Surveyor I soft landed on the moon it began within an hour to transmit the first of over 11,000 TV pictures of the moon. The camera's design requirements were set by a wide range of temperatures, the need to maneuver the camera to view any area, the spacecraft's power supply and the need for verification from the spacecraft to confirm to the operator that the camera had received and executed each command. The camera has a complex variable focal length lens complete with focus adjustments and a commandable iris. The camera is positioned vertically on the spacecraft and the lens looks directly into the rotating-mirror assembly. A focal plane shutter exposes a 1-in. hybrid vidicon tube for 150 ms prior to the frame readout. Problems encountered are described and illustrations show the variety of conditions under which the camera performed.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1967-08

Content type

Information

DOI

10.5594/J09118