The iconic photographs from the Apollo missions, showcasing the lunar landscape and the historic first steps on the Moon, were not captured by chance. Documenting the achievement of landing on the Moon was a primary objective, making the camera system an integral part of the mission hardware. The journey of the cameras, from a commercial product on Earth to a scientific instrument on the lunar surface, involved a complex process of selection, extreme modification, and detailed astronaut training. This story provides a detailed look into the engineering and planning required for the unprecedented feat of human spaceflight.
Selecting and Modifying the Equipment
The chosen camera system had to function flawlessly in the vacuum of space and withstand the lunar environment’s immense temperature swings, ranging from -250°F to over 250°F. Designers selected a version of the Hasselblad medium-format camera for its high-quality optics and ability to use large 70mm film magazines. Making the camera space-ready required removing non-essential components to save weight, including the reflex mirror, viewfinder, and leather coverings.
Engineers addressed the issue of conventional lubricants, which would vaporize in a vacuum. Internal mechanisms were modified to operate without oil or grease, and the camera body was painted silver to reflect heat. A specialized glass plate, known as a Réseau plate, was installed in front of the film plane, etched with a calibrated grid of crosshairs. These fiducial marks imprinted on every photograph provided a fixed reference grid, allowing scientists to correct for film distortion and perform photogrammetry—making precise measurements from the images.
The Logistics of Lunar Transport
The trip to the Moon was governed by tight weight and volume restrictions; every item had to justify its place in the payload. The modified cameras, designated as Electric Data Cameras (EDC), were stowed within the Command Module and the Lunar Module (LM). They were treated as scientific instruments, intended to document geological features and mission activities.
For lunar surface expeditions, two modified cameras were carried inside the LM’s descent stage. One camera was fitted with a wide-angle 60mm lens for general photography, while a second carried a longer lens for detailed work. The compact design incorporated the cameras into the astronauts’ limited equipment allowances.
Training and Technique for Lunar Photography
The astronauts underwent extensive training to become highly skilled scientific photographers. They practiced operating the modified equipment for years, often using training cameras during field exercises in geologically relevant areas on Earth. This training was necessary because using the cameras on the Moon would be dramatically different.
The modified Hasselblad cameras were mounted directly to the chest of the astronauts’ space suits, eliminating the ability to look through a viewfinder. Astronauts learned to aim the camera by orienting their entire body toward the subject. Focus and exposure settings were often pre-set for the bright lunar daylight, allowing them to focus on composition and trigger the shutter with a large, glove-friendly control. The fixed focus and chest-mounting technique ensured a consistent perspective and allowed for rapid documentation during the limited Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) time.
Retrieving the Photographic Evidence
The final stage involved a critical weight-saving decision for the return to Earth. The Lunar Module’s ascent stage had to be as light as possible to successfully launch from the Moon and rendezvous with the Command Module. Therefore, only the exposed film magazines, which contained the photographic data, were brought back.
The camera bodies, lenses, and other hardware were intentionally left behind on the lunar surface to reduce payload mass. Astronauts detached the film magazines from the camera bodies inside the Lunar Module, a procedure requiring careful handling to protect the film from light. These magazines were transferred to the Command Module for the trip home, while the empty camera shells were discarded before ascent. This practice resulted in about twelve camera bodies remaining on the Moon, a lasting monument to the photographic effort of the Apollo missions.