Apollo 17 Photographic Task Requirements

SM Orbital Photographic Tasks

Purpose

The functional test objectives in order of priority are as follows:

FTO 1) Obtain high resolution panoramic photographs with stereoscopic and monoscopic coverage of the lunar surface.

FTO 2) Obtain high quality metric photographs of the lunar surface and stellar photographs exposed simultaneously with the metric photographs.

FTO 3) Obtain data on the altitude of the CSM above the lunar surface.

(n.b. FTO = Flight Test Objective)

Test Conditions

FTO 1 and 2. The fields-of-view of both cameras will be unobstructed during operation. During camera operation, the SIM bay will be nadir-aligned (except where identified otherwise in Table 2) with the CSM Plus-X axis directed along the velocity vector. The in-flight pointing accuracy requirements are +2.5° about all axes for the 24-inch Panoramic Camera and +2.0° about all axes for the 3-inch Mapping Camera. CSM attitude deadbands will be +0.5° with + 0.05° per second drift while the cameras are in operation on the lunar light side. Post mission pointing knowledge requirements are +2.0° about all axes for both cameras. When the 24-inch Panoramic Camera is operated, it is highly desirable that the 3-inch Mapping Camera be operated concurrently. Initial warm-up of the Mapping Camera and Panoramic Camera will be in accordance with Paragraphs 3.7.3.4.1 and 3.4.3.4.1 of t h e CSM/LM Spacecraft Operational Data Book, SNA-8-D-O27(VI), Volume VI, CSM Experiments Data Book f or J-Missions. Following completion of all photography, the crew will perform an EVA and retrieve film cassettes from both cameras and stow them in the CM.

FTO 1 The 24-inch Panoramic Camera will be operated during portions of lunar orbit lightside passes in accordance with Table 1.

The first photographic sequence will be scheduled as early as is practical in lunar orbit. The last sequence will finish at the western terminator of the last available orbit. To the extent possible within film limitations, the Panoramic Camera Sequences will provide contiguous 70° rectified Panoramic Camera sequence duration during a single lightside coverage of the combined sunlit area overflown by the CSM on Apollo 15, Apollo 16 and Apollo Mission 5-3. The maximum pass will be no more than approximately 30 minutes.

The V/H override control of the Panoramic Camera will be operated in accordance with MCC instructions.

FTO 2 The 3-inch Mapping Camera will be operated in accordance with the requirements of Table 2. To the extent possible the 3-inch Mapping Camera sequences will provide at least 55 percent sidelap between consecutive bands of photographic coverage. Concurrent operation of the Laser Altimeter is required, except for oblique Mapping Camera passes and post-TEI Mapping Camera operation. Mapping Camera operation on darkside passes, as indicated in Table 2, is required for the purpose of providing attitude data for the Laser Altimeter. The Mapping Camera image motion compensation may be changed in real time following evaluation of telemetry data at the MCC.

FTO 3 The Laser Altimeter will be operated as specified in Table 3. The Laser Altimeter will operate whenever the Mapping Camera is operating, except for Mapping Camera oblique passes and post-TEI operation. For Laser Altimeter operation, the SIM bay will be nadir-aligned, with the CSM Plus-X or Minus-X axis aligned to the velocity vector. In-flight pointing accuracy requirements are plus or minus 2.0° about all axes. For periods of operating the Laser Altimeter simultaneously with the Mapping Camera on the lunar dark side, it is highly desirable that CSM attitude deadbands be plus or minus 0.5° with less that 0.05&deg-per-second drift. For highly desirable periods of Laser Altimeter operation, the pointing requirement is plus or minus 6.5°; CSM attitude deadbands will be plus or minus 5.0° with less than 0.5° per second drift. Pointing knowledge must be recoverable post-mission to within plus or minus 2.0° about all axes.

Success Criteria

Evaluation

Data Requirements

Premission sensitometry of the flight films in accordance with the standard procedures of the Photographic Technology Division.

Experiment Support Data (ESD): a) Telemetry Measurements:

Telemetry measurements listed under 3 ) a ) .Display preference is indicated by (A) for analog and (D) for digital.

3) Experiment Evaluation Data (EED):

a )Telemetry Measurements :

* There are no requirements for pre-mission data.

** If telemetry cannot be recorded on the lunar backside, the Lunar Altimeter should be operated since the altitude word is automatically recorded on the Mapping Camera film.                 

                b) Telemetry Measurement Tapes:                                                                                                                      

                    One copy of the tape** containing EED telemetered measurements listed under 3)a), recorded and correlated with GMT during periods of equipment        operation.

                c) Astronaut Logs or Voice Records:  (HD)

                    One copy of astronaut logs or voice records containing the description and GET of manual control settings for the 24 inch Panoramic Camera, the 3 inch Mapping Camera, and the Laser Altimeter.    

                d) Astronaut Debriefings:   (HD)

                    Two copies of astronaut post-mission scientific and photographic debriefing  transcript pertaining to operation of the SIM bay cameras and the Laser Altimeter.

                e) Photographs:   (M)

                    Five sets of Panoramic and Mapping camera photographs.

                 f) Two copies of microfilm containing the output of the Apollo Photographic Evaluation Program (APE) program for the periods of operation of the SIM bay cameras and the Laser Altimeter.   (M)

                 g) Supporting Data:   (HD)

                     (1) One copy of Laser Altimeter record listing of SL 1122 K.

                     (2) One hard copy listing of the tapes listed under 3)b) and 3)f).             

                     (3) One copy each, 16 mm microfiche of tape digital hard copy listing of tape listed under 3)b).                         

** Magnetic tape produced is to be UNIVAC 1108 computer-compatible digital 7 track, 800 BPI tape.

Background and Justification

24-inch Panoramic Camera [FTO 1]:

3-inch Mapping Camera [FTO 2]:

Laser Altimeter [FTO 3]:

During Apollo 16, the laser altimeter was operated on each vertical mapping camera pass, and provided approximately 70 percent of the planned data.

Miscellaneous

Panoramic camera operation will be planned to accomplish the following:

(1) Extend high resolution coverage in the east-west direction beyond the coverage obtained on previous missions.

(2) Fill gaps in the rectified panoramic coverage of Apollo 15 and Apollo 16.

(3) Provide multiple high resolution coverage of the Taurus-Littrow landing site.

The data obtained in support of this detailed objective will also be provided for data analysis tasks, identified by Reference 8 as the following lunar orbital photographic experiments:

S-213 Selenocentric Reference System;

S-214 Lunar Altitude Profile

S-215 Lunar Altimeter: Radii/Gravity

S-216 Laser Altimeter selenodesy

S-217 IR/Radar Study

S-218 Photo/Altimetry Analyses

S-219 Gravity/Crustal Structure

S-220 Lunar Geology, Eastern Maria

S-221 Structure of Shallow Maria

S-222 Photogeology

S-223 Volcanology and Morphology

S-224 Surface Structure and Processes

S-225 Morphology of Crater Chains.

 

Previous Flight Objectives

Table 1. Photographic Requirements for the 24-inch Panoramic Camera

** Eastern terminator.

*** These sequences will be done in the monoscopic mode. All other sequences will be done in the stereoscopic mode.

**** Western terminator.

Table 2. Photographic Requirements for the 3-inch Mapping Camera

** The Mapping Camera is to be operated as soon as practicable following TEI using the remainder of the film.

Table 3. Requirements for Operation of the Laser Altimeter

The Itek Panoramic Camera	Return to SIM Bay Cameras	Apollo 15 Statistics and Performance