Lot 741: Four NASA Lunar Orbiter Survey Photos; Pasteur Crater

Four (4) original large-format vintage gelatin silver prints on glossy paper from NASA's Second Lunar Orbiter mission, November 18-25, 1966. The photographs are designated 92M, 137M, 196M, and 196H2 lower left. Image 92M features the intersection of multiple rilles directly to the East of Triesnecker crater in the Sinus Medii region. Image 137M is of the area to the northeast of Reinhold crater. Photos 196M and 196H2 were taken from an altitude of 1519 km on the Moon's far side, with the 233 km wide Pasteur crater prominently featured. 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. 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. 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.