Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Purdue University Press Book Previews Purdue University Press 6-2020 Through Astronaut Eyes: Photographing Early Human Spaceflight Jennifer K. Levasseur Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/purduepress_previews This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. THROUGH ASTRONAUT EYES PURDUE STUDIES IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS James R. Hansen, Series Editor Purdue Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics builds on Purdue’s leadership in aeronautic and astronautic engineering, as well as the historic accomplishments of many of its luminary alums. Works in the series will explore cutting-edge topics in aeronautics and astronautics enterprises, tell unique stories from the history of flight and space travel, and contemplate the future of human space exploration and colonization. RECENT BOOKS IN THE SERIES British Imperial Air Power: The Royal Air Forces and the Defense of Australia and New Zealand Between the World Wars by Alex M Spencer A Reluctant Icon: Letters to Neil Armstrong by James R. Hansen John Houbolt: The Unsung Hero of the Apollo Moon Landings by William F. Causey Dear Neil Armstrong: Letters to the First Man from All Mankind by James R. Hansen Piercing the Horizon: The Story of Visionary NASA Chief Tom Paine by Sunny Tsiao Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom by George Leopold Spacewalker: My Journey in Space and Faith as NASA’s Record-Setting Frequent Flyer by Jerry L. Ross THROUGH ASTRONAUT EYES Photographing Early Human Spaceflight Jennifer K. Levasseur Purdue University Press West Lafayette, Indiana The funding and support of the author by the Smithsonian Institution made the research and writing of this book possible. Copyright 2020 by Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the Library of Congress. Hardback ISBN: 978-1-55753-931-1 epub ISBN: 978-1-55753-933-5 epdf ISBN: 978-1-55753-932-8 Cover images: Astronaut Edward White performing the first U.S. spacewalk, photographed by James McDivitt, June 3, 1965, S65-30431 (NASA); Earthrise, photographed by William Anders, December 24, 1968, AS08-14-2383 (NASA); the iconic photograph of Buzz Aldrin, over many years, came to be known by many as the Moonman image, AS11-40- 5903 (NASA); A whole Earth as seen during the Apollo 17 mission, likely photographed by Harrison Schmitt, AS17-148-22727 (NASA); Harrison Schmitt and the U.S. flag with Earth above, photographed by Eugene Cernan, December 11, 1972, AS17-134-20384 (NASA); Apollo Lunar Camera (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum For Remi and Drew CONTENTS List of Illustrations viii Acknowledgments xiii INTRODUCTION Interpreting Astronaut Photography 1 CHAPTER 1 Why an Amateur Needs a Better Camera than a Professional 15 CHAPTER 2 Photographs for Every Audience 61 CHAPTER 3 Images of Exploration 99 CHAPTER 4 The Afterlife of Astronaut Photography 145 EPILOGUE Continuing Resonance 185 Notes 195 Archival and Bibliographic Sources 219 Index 231 About the Author 239 List of Illustrations xvi Figure Intro. 1. Earthrise, photographed by William Anders, December 24, 1968, AS08-14-2383 (NASA). 11 Figure Intro. 2. Astronaut Edward White performing the first U.S. spacewalk, photographed by James McDivitt, June 3, 1965, S65-30431 (NASA). 12 Figure Intro. 3. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin saluting the U.S. flag on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission, July 20, 1969, AS11-40-5874 (NASA). 18 Figure 1.1. Mercury capsule model in spin tunnel at the Langley Research Center, September 11, 1959, LARC Image #L-1959-06212 (NASA). 22 Figure 1.2. Earth/Sky Observer camera manufactured by J. A. Maurer, used on unpiloted Mercury-Atlas 3A mission on April 25, 1961, NASM Cat. #A19781516000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 23 Figure 1.3. Mercury Pilot Observer Camera, NASM Cat. #A19790459000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 23 Figure 1.4. Instrument Observer Camera visible over Glenn’s right shoulder and the chest mirror at the bottom shows some of the instrument panel, still frame from 16mm Pilot Observer Camera, Friendship 7, February 20, 1962 (NASA). 25 Figure 1.5. Ansco Autoset camera, Friendship 7, NASM Cat. #A19670198000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 26 Figure 1.6. Leica camera, Friendship 7, NASM Cat. #A19670197000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 28 Figure 1.7. Astronaut Scott Carpenter on the recovery ship U.S.S. Intrepid after the Aurora 7 flight, carrying his Robot camera and spacesuit gloves, July 10, 1962, S62- 04027 (NASA). viii 31 Figure 1.8. Astronauts Wally Schirra (left) and Deke Slayton (center) examine Hasselblad cameras with engineer Roland Williams, 1962, S62-06065 (NASA). 32 Figure 1.9. Hasselblad camera used by Wally Schirra on Sigma 7, October 3, 1962 (Courtesy of RR Auction). 33 Figure 1.10. Robot camera used by Gordon Cooper on Faith 7, May 18–19, 1963, NASM Cat. #A19770553000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 37 Figure 1.11. Hasselblad 1600f model (Richard Nordin). 39 Figure 1.12. Hasselblad advertisement, Popular Photography, July 1961 (Courtesy of Smithsonian Libraries, Washington, DC; courtesy of Vicktor Hasselblad AB). 40 Figure 1.13. Hasselblad camera advertisement, Newsweek, August 11, 1969 (Courtesy of Viktor Hasselblad AB). 45 Figure 1.14. 70mm Hasselblad SWC from Project Gemini, NASM Cat. #A19790525000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 46 Figure 1.15. 70mm J. A. Maurer still camera from Project Gemini, NASM Cat. #A19761794000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 47 Figure 1.16. 35mm Zeiss Contarex camera, NASM Cat. #V19890085039 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 48 Table 1.1. Data compiled for Gemini mission training. Source: Project Gemini mission reports. 55 Figure 1.17. Apollo 8 flight plan page for start of fourth orbit,Earthrise image captured at approximately MET 75:47 (NASA). 60 Figure 2.1. Earthrise, photographed by Frank Borman, December 24, 1968, AS08- 13-2329 (NASA). 64 Figure 2.2. Earthrise, photographed by Lunar Orbiter 1, August 23, 1966, Frame 102-H2 (NASA). 68 Table 2.1. Tabulation of all images featuring humans (including shadows and footprints). 73 Figure 2.3. Data Acquisition Camera from the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, NASM Cat. #A20190311000 (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). 75 Figure 2.4. The Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) as seen from the Gemini 9 spacecraft during one of their three rendezvous in space, June 3, 1966, S66-37923 (NASA). 76 Figure 2.5. Magnification of the service module gave engineers their only look at the damage to Apollo 13, April 17, 1970, AS13-58-8459 (NASA). LIST OF IllUSTRATIONS ix 79 Figure 2.6. Apollo Lunar Stereo Closeup Camera during Apollo 11, AS11-40-5957 (NASA). 84 Figure 2.7. A whole Earth as seen during the Apollo 17 mission, likely photo- graphed by Harrison Schmitt, AS17-148-22727 (NASA). 85 Figure 2.8. The Hycon lunar topographic camera was intended for lunar mapping during Apollo 13, AS13-282A-70HC-251 (NASA). 86 Figure 2.9. Open SIM Bay of Apollo 17 service module, December 14, 1972, AS17- 145-22254 (NASA). 94 Figure 2.10. Terry Slezak in the LRL with an Apollo 11 film magazine and lunar dust on his fingers, S69-40054 (NASA). 101 Figure 3.1. The iconic photograph of Buzz Aldrin, over many years, came to be known by many as the Moonman image, AS-40-5903 (NASA). 109 Figure 3.2. Timothy O’Sullivan’s ambulance wagon and portable darkroom used during the King Survey rolls across the sand dunes of Carson Desert, Nevada, 1867, 77-KS-346O (National Archives). 114 Figure 3.3. Endurance at midwinter, photographed by Frank Hurley, 1915, P66/18/43 (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge). 117 Figure 3.4. The Polar Party at the South Pole. Scott, Oates, Evans stands, Bowers and Wilson sit in front with the Union Jack flag on a pole behind, photographed by Henry Bowers, 1912, P2005/5/1346 (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge). 123 Figure 3.5. Cliffs of the Upper Colorado River, Wyoming Territory, by Thomas Moran, 1882 (Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Henry Ward Ranger through the National Academy of Design). 123 Figure 3.6. Gas Pillars in the Eagle Nebula (M16): Pillars of Creation in a Star Forming Region, 1995 (NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester and P. Scowen, Arizona State University). 124 Figure 3.7. Sun over the Barne Glacier, autochrome photograph by Herbert Ponting, 1912 (© Royal Geographical Society [with IBG]). 126 Figure 3.8. Bear Lake, Bear Lake County, Idaho, photographed by William Henry Jackson, 1871, 57-HS-124 (National Archives). 127 Figure 3.9. Heavy pancake ice in which the Terra Nova was held up while trying to rescue the Northern Party, photographed by Herbert Ponting, 1912 (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge). 127 Figure 3.10. Second photograph captured by Neil Armstrong after stepping onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission, July 20, 1969, AS11-40-5851 (NASA). x LIST OF IllUSTRATIONS 128 Figure 3.11. Steamboat Springs, Nevada, photographed by Timothy H. O’Sullivan, 1867, LC-USZ62-74452 (Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress). 129 Figure 3.12. Christmas Eve in the pack, photographed by Herbert Ponting, December 24, 1910 (© Royal Geographical Society [with IBG]). 129 Figure 3.13. Earthrise, rotated 90° right as typically shown in publications (NASA). 131 Figure 3.14. Alkali Lake, Carson Desert, Nevada, photographed by Timothy H. O’Sullivan, 1867, LC-USZ62-103091 (Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress). 131 Figure 3.15. Saved! Frank Hurley, 1917 (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge).