NSSDC Apollo Film Archive Refreshed

Among the more popular NSSDC image data are lunar images captured by a series of Apollo astronauts on 70-mm film using Hassleblad cameras. In fact, owing to their use in satisfying repeated requests for images, NSSDC's film was starting to show some evidence of age. To rectify this situation, NSSDC has over the past few years worked with personnel at the photo archive of Johnson Space Center (JSC), where original film from NASA's manned missions has been held over the years.

Robert Tice of the Photo Archive appears before an Apollo image.

In March 1997 NSSDC received 132 film reels from JSC. These were in a variety of sizes (16-mm movie, 35-mm Nikon, 70-mm Hassleblad, and 5" metric and panoramic) and hue (40 color, 92 black and white). There was some film from Apollo 4 (launched November 1967 into Earth orbit) and some film from each Apollo between 6 and 17. Some images are Earth-looking.

Of all these reels nine were of black and white Hassleblad imagery corresponding to NSSDC's prior film stock most in need of replenishment. NSSDC has had high quality copies of these made through a Washington area Department of Defense (DOD) photo facility. NSSDC will hold the JSC-provided copy in permanent archive conditions and will use the DOD-replicated copies as working copies from which to satisfy future requests.

Mr. Richard Slater and his colleagues at JSC were most helpful in preparing the film stock and associated inventory for transfer to NSSDC.

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