+ 1970 News Releases (7.6 Mb PDF file) - NASA

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F-TIONAL AERONAUTI',..-.S AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
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483-5111 August 5, 1970
RELEAS}_D AT NASA HEADQUARTERS
The National Aeronaut[cs and Space Administration has selected RCA
Corporation's Astro-Electronics Division, Princeton, New Jersey, to
build a ground-co_aanded television system for use in the last four
Apollo lunar exploration m_ssions.
The $1.62 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract covers flight hardware
for color television 2ameras and remote control units which will be
compatible with existing Ai0ollo real-time command systems at Manned Space
Flight Network tracking stations. The color camera is similar to the
field sequential camera used on previous Apollo missions.
The system permits the camera to be operated remotely from Earth or
manually by Apollo crews. When it is connected by cable to the lunar
module batteries and S-Bani transmitter_ operation is manual.
Used with the lunar roving vehicle (Rover)_ the camera system can
be earth-commanded on or off_ pan and tilt_ zoom lens focal length and
switch automatic light control from "peak" to "average." A rover-mounted
camer conceivably could relay to Earth a view of lunar module liftoff,
depending on Rover battery life remaining.
The camera and remote control unit will be used in conjunction with
a briefcase-size portable lunar communications relay unit (LCRU) being
developed under a separate RCA contract. The LCRU can be mounted on the
Rover vehicle or carried hy a crewman on the surface of the Moon.
Communications with _arth during exploration treks afoot or by Rover
will no longer be limited by the lunar horizon around the lunar module
landing spot_ the LCRU will permit voice and TV picture transmission
direct to Earth without l_nar module relay.
The complete camera_ remote control unit, LCRU system and Rover is
scheduled to be flo-_n first on Apollo 16.