Lot 739: Four NASA Lunar Orbiter Survey Photos, 1966; Maestlin G Crater; Apollo

Four (4) original large-format vintage gelatin silver prints on matte paper from NASA's Second Lunar Orbiter mission, launch date November 6, 1966. The photographs are designated II-179M, II-198H1, II-198H2, and II-198H3 lower left. A total of 215 sets of photographs were planned for the second orbiter mission in 1966, each consisting of one medium-resolution image and three high-resolution images of the same area. The three 198H (High Resolution) images show closeups of the area southeast of the Maestlin G crater, which was eventually designated as Landing Site 5 for the Apollo 11 and 12 missions, a backup site should the need arise. Also included is image 179M, a view of the plains of the Mare Insularum, to the east of Encke Crater. Unframed. Sheets measure 24" H x 20" W. Note: "Five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched in 1966 through 1967 with the purpose of mapping the lunar surface before the Apollo landings. All five missions were successful, and 99% of the Moon was photographed with a resolution of 60 m or better. The first three missions were dedicated to imaging 20 potential lunar landing sites, selected based on Earth-based observations. The Lunar Orbiters had an ingenious imaging system, which consisted of a dual-lens camera, a film processing unit, a readout scanner, and a film handling apparatus. Both lenses, a 610-mm narrow angle high-resolution (H) lens and an 80-mm wide-angle medium resolution (M) lens, placed their frame exposures on a single roll of 70 mm film. The axes of the two cameras were coincident so the area imaged in the HR frames were centered within the Medium Resolution frame areas. The film was moved during exposure to compensate for the spacecraft velocity, which was estimated by an electric-optical sensor. The film was then processed, scanned, and the images transmitted back to Earth. Launch: 6 November 1966 Imaged Moon: 18-25 November 1966. Lunar Orbiter 2's mission was to photograph 13 primary and 17 secondary landing sites for the Apollo program in the northern region of the Moon's near side equatorial area." (Source: NASA.gov)

PROVENANCE: Private Knoxville collection. Consignor previously worked in the planetary science field in Houston, TX.

CONDITION: Each in very good condition with slight wrinkling.