NSSDCA ID: 1966-104A-08
Mission Name: Gemini 12The 70-mm still camera aboard Gemini 12 was used with a wide-angle (f/0.95) lens and high-sensitivity black and white film to investigate by photographic techniques the possible existence of clouds of particles or dust orbiting the earth in the earth-moon libration regions. The spacecraft was oriented toward the constellation Capricornus, the star field area in which the L sub 4 libration region passed during the mission. Six photographs were taken in the area of the libration region pass, and five photographs were taken of the L sub 4 libration point. The photographs were taken with the camera aligned perpendicular to the pilot's window but not parallel to the spacecraft axis. Exposure time were 30 sec, 1 min, and 2 min. Malfunctions of the camera-shuttered lens assembly and of the film advance mechanisms caused overexposed and double-exposed images. Difficulty in stabilizing the spacecraft caused smeared images. Three of the 11 pictures taken in the L sub 4 libration were properly exposed, and isodensitometer traces of two recognizable star fields were made. However, a light flare and an image smear rendered inconclusive results.
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Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
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Dr. Elliot C. Morris | Principal Investigator | US Geological Survey |