Post by ajv on Oct 21, 2005 0:30:21 GMT -4
In The Truth Behind the Moon Landings documentary, the location of the EVA camera shutter release is shown as the large button on the lower front of the unit and there is discussion about the ability of a gloved astronaut to operate the shutter.
There are some Apollo 11 training photographs (e.g. S69-31108) showing the Aldrin using the camera. However, other Apollo 11 training photographs (e.g. KSC-69PC-362 - July 1969, S69-38508) show Aldrin using a camera with a handle attached to the camera assembly.
Did the Apollo 11 EVA camera have the handle?
The Technical Debrief suggests it did. Aldrin says:
Obviously there are no Apollo 11 EVA images of the Hasselblad itself. The sketch on page 10 the Apollo 11 press kit does not show a handle and a 16mm frame AP11FR07 is inconclusive. The low quality web movies of the EVA do not show enough detail but I can imagine that I see the handle or its shadow in the 16mm material. My SpacecraftFilms Apollo 11 DVD is on loan at the moment so I can't check if you can see a handle in the better quality TV or 16mm footage.
There is a photograph of the Apollo 11 camera equipment on the LPI site with a handle but that could just be sloppiness by the web author because they use the same image (with different names) on all of their mission pages.
In the Apollo 12 ALSJ, at 116:10:25, Eric Jones talks about a trigger on the handle:
On the LPI Apollo 12 Camera Equipment page, it says
Consider 70-HC-74 and the Aldrin training photograph above. There seems to be a mechanical link between the trigger and the button on the Hasselblad unit. It is also visible in the Apollo 12 EVA AS12-49-7281 (HR).
So, did the Apollo 11 EVA camera have the shutter release trigger on a handle rather than directly on the Hasselblad itself as the documentary suggests?
There are some Apollo 11 training photographs (e.g. S69-31108) showing the Aldrin using the camera. However, other Apollo 11 training photographs (e.g. KSC-69PC-362 - July 1969, S69-38508) show Aldrin using a camera with a handle attached to the camera assembly.
Did the Apollo 11 EVA camera have the handle?
The Technical Debrief suggests it did. Aldrin says:
There is no doubt that having the mount frees you to operate with both hands on other tasks. The handle is adequate to perform the job of pointing the camera.
Obviously there are no Apollo 11 EVA images of the Hasselblad itself. The sketch on page 10 the Apollo 11 press kit does not show a handle and a 16mm frame AP11FR07 is inconclusive. The low quality web movies of the EVA do not show enough detail but I can imagine that I see the handle or its shadow in the 16mm material. My SpacecraftFilms Apollo 11 DVD is on loan at the moment so I can't check if you can see a handle in the better quality TV or 16mm footage.
There is a photograph of the Apollo 11 camera equipment on the LPI site with a handle but that could just be sloppiness by the web author because they use the same image (with different names) on all of their mission pages.
In the Apollo 12 ALSJ, at 116:10:25, Eric Jones talks about a trigger on the handle:
The checklist calls for Al to mount one of the 70 mm cameras on the bracket on the front of his chest-mounted RCU. This will leave his hands free for other tasks. When he needs to take a picture, all he needs to do is squeeze a trigger on the handle which is also attached to the bracket.
On the LPI Apollo 12 Camera Equipment page, it says
The operating sequence was initiated by squeezing a trigger mounted on the camera handle. [...] The cameras were bracket-mounted on the front of the LM astronauts' EVA suits.
Consider 70-HC-74 and the Aldrin training photograph above. There seems to be a mechanical link between the trigger and the button on the Hasselblad unit. It is also visible in the Apollo 12 EVA AS12-49-7281 (HR).
So, did the Apollo 11 EVA camera have the shutter release trigger on a handle rather than directly on the Hasselblad itself as the documentary suggests?