Nikon NASA F4
The Nikon NASA F4 Electronic Still Camera is one of the first and rarest fully digital cameras with development started in 1987.[1] While Nikon delivered a modified Nikon F4 body, most of the electronics for the digital camera and housings were designed and manufactured by NASA at the Johnson Space Center and other suppliers. It was first flown in September 1991 on board the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-48.[2][3] Later the cameras were flown on several other Shuttle missions[4] including STS-44, 45, 42, 49, 53,[5] 56[6] and 61.[7]
Although the camera was often used alone mounted with its Electronics Box, the HERCULES system
History
Nikon has been a supplier of
Nikon's first digital camera (
The NASA Electronic Still Camera / Nikon NASA F4 was followed by the NASA-used Nikon-based
Technology
The camera was based on a modified
Three copies of the NASA Electronic Still Camera were produced. The original development team included NASA Civil Servant electronic and mechanical design and fabrication,
Developed upgrades included a 2048 x 2048 CCD sensor, a color CCD and architecture changes, but finally the Kodak DCS 460 was preferred.[1]
See also
- Nikon E series
- List of cameras on ISS
- List of NASA cameras on spacecraft
References
- ^ a b c d e NASA Nikon F4 Electronic Still Camera
- ^ a b "SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-48 PRESS KIT SEPTEMBER 1991". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ a b NASA F4 Electronic Still Camera Nikonweb
- ^ Space Shuttle Launches NASA
- ^ "SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-53 PRESS KIT". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-56 PRESS KIT". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-61 PRESS KIT". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ Chapman, Timm J. "The NASA HERCULES Payload". One Vision Photography. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016.
- ^ Sky Camera Maps Targets: HERCULES Popular Mechanics Sep 1993
- ^ Application of Space Shuttle Project HERCULES imagery in the investigation of ship cloud tracks Whitmeyer
- ^ Additional information on the NASA F4 in NHS issue 95. The F4 from flight STS-053. Nikon Historical Society
- ^ HERCULES attitude processor: gyro data processing system for real-time geolocation of images captured by astronauts
- ^ STS-70 Press Kit NASA
- ^ How Does NASA Get a Nikon D2Xs DSLR Ready to Go to Space? Popphoto.com
- ^ Nikon Photomic FTN Archived 28 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine Nikon
- ^ Nikon F - Nikon FTn Meter Finder/Prisms Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine Mir
- ^ Nikon cameras and NASA TATENO, Yokoyuki, Apphotnum
- ^ Special titanium Nikon cameras and NASA cameras Nikon
- ^ Corporate History Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Nikon
- ^ Nikon F3 NASA 250 Mir.com
- ^ Additional information on Nikon Video Still Camera Model 1 & Nikon QV-1000C Still Video Camera MIR
- ^ Nikon Still Video Camera (prototype) Nikonweb
- ^ Nikon QV-1000C? Never heard of it. Nikonweb
- ^ NASA (28 March 2015). "NASA Johnson". NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ NASA (6 October 2015). "NASA Johnson". NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth: What are the different choices of cameras? NASA