This opthamalotical Fundus camera was used in experiments aboard the Space Shuttle in the early 1990s. Researchers and physicians use them to magnify and image the back of the eye by flashing light directly into the eye, and astronauts used this Kowa brand camera to observe retinal blood vessels and the optic nerve in weightlessness. Eye movement in response to body motion and other stimuli is a salient factor in the study of space motion sickness and adaptation to microgravity.
NASA transferred this camera to the Museum in 2005 after it was no longer needed for missions in space.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
Japan
Type
EQUIPMENT-Photographic
Manufacturer
Kowa Company
Dimensions
3-D: 10 × 19.5 × 25cm (3 15/16 × 7 11/16 × 9 13/16 in.)
Materials
Plastic, metal, enclosed electronics, rubber, decals
Inventory Number
A20060427000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.