III. Space Imaging Systems

1891 | First proposal (Rahrmann) for using a rocket as a photo platform.
1908 | Maul (Germany) develops gyro-stabilized camera mounted on rocket (launched by 1912).
1946 | Space pictures obtained from V-2 rockets launched at White Sands Proving Ground (New Mexico).
1957 | Launch of Sputnik 1 by USSR.
1960 | Images obtained from U.S. meteorological satellite TIROS-1.
1961 | Orbital photographs from unmanned Mercury spacecraft MA-4, followed by astronaut photographs from MA-8 and MA-9.
1964 | Nimbus research meteorological satellite program begins; TV and other sensors.
1965 | First manned Gemini flight (GT-3), with some color photos.
1965 | Gemini GT-4 space photography experiments.
1965 | Recommendation of ERTS (Landsat) program by U.S. Department of Interior to NASA.
1966 | Launch of ATS series of geosynchronous satellites, with imaging sensors, followed by SMS (GOES) series beginning in 1974
1967 | Apollo mission Earth-orbital flights (Apollo-6, -7) culminating in SO65 multispectral photography experiment on Apollo-9 (1968)
1972 | Launch of ERTS-1 (Landsat); Landsat-2 (1975); Landsat-3 (1978)
1972-73 | Skylab launch; series of experiments by astronauts with EREP (Earth Resources Experiment Package).
1975 | Apollo-Soyuz flight; some photography.
1978 | Seasat-1 launched in June (failed after 99 days).
1978 | Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM), first AEM.
1979 | Nimbus-7 launched.

Primary Author: Nicholas M. Short, Sr. email: nmshort@ptd.net