Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Mercury - Gemini - Apollo
  Orientation of Gemini EVA and other photos

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Orientation of Gemini EVA and other photos
LM-12
Member

Posts: 3767
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-08-2017 12:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jim Lovell took a lot of great EVA photos of Buzz Aldrin on the Gemini 12 flight. Photos S66-62763, S66-62771 and S66-62782 are three good examples.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5806978
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5806986
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5806997

But are these images oriented correctly?

The three images chosen all show the 7-foot antenna on the Agena Target Vehicle. That antenna lines up with the docking bar on the Gemini spacecraft. Also, the Gemini ejection seats were angled 12 degrees from the vertical. Therefore, shouldn't these (and other) EVA photos be rotated 90 degrees clockwise to show the correct orientation, the way that Lovell saw Aldrin out the window from the left seat?

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3767
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-08-2017 12:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gemini 6A photo S65-63183 of Gemini 7 and the moon is another example. It looks like it was taken by Wally Schirra in the left seat.

However, if you rotate the photo 90 degrees clockwise, it looks like it was taken by Tom Stafford in the right seat. I believe that is the correct orientation.

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3767
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-08-2017 11:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gemini 9A EVA photo S66-38515 shows Gene Cernan upside down at the right side of the frame. The image is often seen rotated 180 degrees with Cernan upright at the left side of the frame. I believe both orientations are incorrect.

The docking bar and mirror can be seen in the photo. If you rotate the photo 90 degrees clockwise, the docking bar is near-vertical and Cernan is sideways at the bottom of the frame. That should be the correct orientation of the photo. That should be how Tom Stafford saw Cernan out the left window.

heng44
Member

Posts: 3661
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 11-12-2017 07:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think I agree with you in all three cases. In the case of the Gemini 6 photo I find that the reddish stripes on the nose of the spacecraft are a big help in determining who took the photo. Stafford, in this case.

You can see that the stripes at the front of the spacecraft are offset towards the center of the nose. So when they point to the right the view is from the command pilot's window and vice versa.

LM-12
Member

Posts: 3767
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-12-2017 10:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Exactly, Ed. I also noticed those lines were offset. Gemini 12 photo S66-63011 caught my attention because that EVA photo was definitely taken from the right side of the spacecraft.

Looking at Ed's photo, where the lines are offset is where the re-entry control system section and the rendezvous and recovery section meet.

Jim Behling
Member

Posts: 1796
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 11-12-2017 05:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Therefore, shouldn't these (and other) EVA photos be rotated 90 degrees clockwise...
No, not if the frame of reference is earth centric. It does not have to be photographer centric.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2023 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement