NSSDCA ID: 1975-066A-21
Mission Name: ASTP-ApolloThe objective of the earth observations and photography experiment of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was to photograph various terrestrial structures using man to visually study earth features and phenomena. Eleven mapping sites and 12 visual observing sites were chosen in part from inputs provided by specialists in the following disciplines: geology, oceanography, desert study, hydrology, and environmental science. The photographs of observation and mapping sites were made with a video tape recorder (VTR), a 70-mm Hasselblad reflex camera (HRC), a 70-mm Hasselblad data camera (HDC), a 35-mm Nikon camera, and a 16-mm data acquisition camera (DAC). Real-time television transmissions were also scheduled. The "Earth Observations Book" was the principal onboard aid, and it was divided into three major sections. Section two pertained to specific visual observational targets and was arranged according to site number. For each site there was a summary page with a map showing revolution ground tracks followed by a page (one for each target) that included specific questions, appropriate diagrams and photographs, and camera settings. Studies performed included observations of major active fault zones, river deltas, volcanoes, ocean eddies, currents, internal waves, eolian landform, desert color, snowcover, drainage patterns, cloud features, tropical storms, and sources of atmospheric and water pollution. Further details and some results are contained in the report, "Earth Observations And Photography - Experiment MA-136," by Farouk El-Baz and D. A. Mitchell, Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Preliminary Science Report, NASA-JSC, TM-X-58173, pp. 10.1-10.64, 1976.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Farouk El-Baz | Principal Investigator | ITEK Corporation | paula@bucrsb.bu.edu |