The Hasselblad EDC: the camera that took the first lunar photos

Hasselblad-EDC

Says the official Hasselblad website (where you can see more cameras designed specifically for space exploration):

This is a specially designed version of the motorized 500EL intended for use on the surface of the moon, where the first lunar pictures were taken on 20 July 1969 by Neil Armstrong. The camera is equipped with a specially designed Biogon lens with a focal length of 60 mm, with a polarization filter mounted on the lens. A glass plate (Reseau-Plate), provided with reference crosses which are recorded on the film during exposure, is in contact with the film, and these crosses can be seen on all the pictures taken on the moon from 1969 to 1972. The 12 HEDC cameras used on the surface of the moon were left there. Only the film magazines were brought back.

Emphasis in the quote above is mine. I think a future moon exploration team should bring back at least a few of those cameras for memory’s sake. I wonder if they’ve held up over time in space and moon atmosphere.

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One Response to The Hasselblad EDC: the camera that took the first lunar photos

  1. rogue_forest says:

    No, chances are they have been prickled and pelted by micrometeorites if dumped outside onto the lunar terrain. You could learn more by asking more knowleable folks than me at Lunar Observing; http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/ Dr. Wood, worked on the Mercury/Apollo missions and could direct you to someone with more exacting answers.
    rogue:)

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