Operation of the Surveyor Television System in the Photon-Integration Mode

The Surveyor TV system was designed to obtain panoramic images of the lunar terrain from a spacecraft-landed position. The televised images provided photometric and photogrammetric information about the lunar surface, in addition to serving as the feedback loop necessary to complete other onboard scientific experiments. A photon-integration mode of vidicon camera operation was included in the Surveyor Television System to provide the necessary increase in sensitivity to obtain television images during lunar sunset and earthshine-illuminated operations. By utilizing the unique image-storage capabilities of a slow-scan vidicon, exposures of as long as 30 min in duration were possible. Scene luminance levels on the order of 0.008 fL provided usable vidicon target exposures. The principal limitation of integration time was found to be the rate of dark current buildup. Accurate prelaunch camera calibration provided the necessary camera teristic data to allow the resultant TV pictures to be corrected for dark and other vidicon-induced distortions.*

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1970-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J14326