Space acquired photography

Interested in a photograph of the first space walk by an American astronaut, or the first photograph from space of a solar eclipse? Or maybe your interest is in a specific geologic, oceanic, or meteorological phenomenon? The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center is making photographs of the Earth taken from space available for search, download, and ordering. These photographs were taken by Gemini mission astronauts with handheld cameras or by the Large Format Camera (LFC) that flew on space shuttle Challenger in October 1984. Space photographs are distributed by EROS only as high-resolution scanned or medium-resolution digitized products.

Project Gemini photographs were taken by NASA astronauts with handheld cameras during Gemini Missions III through XII between March 23, 1965, and November 15, 1966. The collection includes over 2,500 camera images of geologic, oceanic, and meteorological targets, as well as historical photography, such as the first docking of two space vehicles. The Gemini photography collection was shot on 70-mm and 5 inch by 5 inch film, primarily color, but with some black and white and color-infrared coverage. The USGS also provides search aids and product support through their commercial vendors (http://edc2.usgs.gov/referrals/index.asp).

The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth (NASA–Johnson Space Center) hosts the complete collection of astronaut photographs of the Earth and is located at http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/.

Shuttle LFC images were acquired during the space shuttle from ground controllers. Shuttle LFC photographs are Challenger flight on October 5–13, 1984. The LFC was distributed as digital products only. mounted in the cargo bay and operated by signals transmitted

High-Resolution and Medium-Resolution Digitized Photography

Both Gemini and LFC film products have been scanned and are now available as either high-resolution scanned or medium-resolution digitized photography. Medium-resolution photography is digitized at approximately 400 dpi, and files are created in TIFF format. The file size for medium resolution products is approximately 15 MB for black and white images and 40 MB for color images. High-resolution images can be 105 MB per black and white image and as much as 240 MB for a color image.

Prices

High resolution scanned: $30.00 per frame* Medium resolution digitized: $3.00 per frame* *Prices subject to change.

For current delivery options see http://eros.usgs.gov/products/aerial/space.html

Search and Order

All the images at EROS can be searched and ordered through Earth Explorer at http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov

Data Applications

Gemini images were taken as long ago as the mid-1960s, before Landsat was launched, and cover many areas outside the United States for which 1960s aerial photography is not available.

The LFC imager involved only one flight mission in October of 1984. The LFC was retired from service after the loss of the space shuttle Challenger.

The Gemini and LFC imagery is useful for making general land cover assessments and for general studies of change in geomorphic features (for example, barrier islands) and hydrology (for example, wetlands/lakes).

For further assistance, please contact:

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Sioux Falls, SD 57198–0001

Fax: Email: Business hours: 605–594–6589 lta@usgs.gov Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Central Time

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