National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

FS-2003-12-008-KSC

Improved imagery planned for return to flight

Additional cameras during launch to give more detail
How often have you said you would like to be pad, cameras focus on the external tank, solid
a fly on the wall somewhere to get more informa- rocket boosters and orbiter. For several miles up
tion? The complex eyes of flies have many indi- and down the coast, tracking cameras and long-
vidual facets, each repre- range optical tracking
senting a separate light- systems capture ascent
detecting unit, and humans imagery.
can only approach that Previously, four short-
capability through multiple range tracking cameras
cameras. For NASA, the were used at the launch
more eyes the better. pads, on camera sites two
When the Space Shuttle (east side) and six (north-
launches again, more west). They are remote
cameras will be examining controlled from the Launch
its ascent than ever have in Control Center. Since it is
the past. The reason is a such a tight shot, one
major improvement in the camera is focused on the
tracking and imaging top half of the Shuttle and
capabilities at Kennedy one focused on the bottom
Space Center, primarily half. Cameras also view
through additional cameras the hydrogen vent arm
and digital resolution, as (above the external tank)
recommended* by the and the underside of the
Columbia Accident Investi- orbiter’s left wing, the one
gation Board in its report facing the camera. Other
released in July 2003. cameras view the area
Cameras at KSC are between the orbiter and the
sited for short-range external tank to see any
tracking (T-10 through debris or ice that might
T+57 seconds), medium- form. For return to flight,
range (T-7 through T+110 This long-range tracking telescope on Playalinda two new camera positions
seconds), and long-range Beach, north of KSC, uses two lenses: on top, a 400- have been proposed to the
(T-7 through T+165 sec- inch lens for 35mm film, and on the bottom, a 200- northeast of the pad. The
inch lens for video.
onds. Around the launch addition of this tracker
1
ensures a Proposed Long-range Tracking Cameras the cameras
view of the will have 400-
underside of inch focal
the right length and
wing and the 100 fps
area between capability to
the external provide more
tank and the data points to
orbiter to better track
view any the Shuttle as
debris during it climbs to
its roll ma- orbit.
neuver. Two of the
The pad cameras are
cameras have part of the
200-mm Distant Object
(focal length) Attitude
lenses, Measurement
running 100 System
frames per Black=existing cameras;
red=proposed cameras
(DOAMS),
second (fps). located at
Each camera Playalinda
is loaded with 400 feet of film. Beach and Cocoa Beach. A refurbished ten-meter
In addition to the video cameras around the focal length telescope was recently reinstalled in
launch pads are 42 fixed cameras with 16-mm the Cocoa Beach DOAMS.
motion picture film. A unique feature of the tracking telescope on
Medium-range trackers have been located at Playalinda Beach, north of the launch pads on
five sites, four along the coast and one near the Cape Canaveral National Seashore (see photo
Shuttle Landing Facility. Additional trackers are reverse side), is a robotic camera manned by a
proposed at sites 2.25 miles and 3 miles north and technician sitting on top and gently manipulating a
west of the launch pads, for a total of seven. joystick to map the Shuttle’s trek through the sky.
Placement at these sites will provide three views for “The joystick is so sensitive, it even responds
triangulation, to better capture multiple views of to the heartbeat of the person using it,” explains
the Shuttle during launch. Bob Page, chairman of the NASA Intercenter Photo
These cameras have 800-mm (32-inch) and Working Group.
greater lenses (80-inch and 120-inch), running 100 There are two lenses stacked vertically. The top
fps. Three of the cameras have 400 feet of film, is a 400-inch lens for 35mm film. The bottom is a
two of the cameras have 1,000 feet. The additional 200-inch lens for video.
tracking cameras have 150-inch lenses, with 1,000 Improvement planned in backup imagery is a
feet of film. change from the standard analog video camera
Five long-range trackers have existed north (640 x 480 resolution @ 30 fps interlaced) to a
and south of the pads, ranging14 miles north of the digital high definition camera (1280 x 720 resolu-
launch pads to Shiloh and Playalinda Beach, to 20 tion at 60 fps progressive).
miles south at Patrick Air Force Base. One of the Studies are underway as well to upgrade film
cameras previously sited at Patrick AFB, deemed cameras to high-speed digital cameras.
too far south, has been dropped in lieu of an
Advanced Transportable Optical Tracking System *Recommendation R3.4-1: îUpgrade the
(ATOTS) on north Merritt Island. The proposed imaging system to be capable of providing a
five additions will reach as far north as Ponce Inlet, minimum of three useful views of the Space Shuttle
38 miles from the pads, and south to Complex 46 from liftoff to at least Solid Rocket Booster separa-
on Cape Canaveral, 11 miles from the pads. All tion, along any expected ascent azimuth.î