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Wide angle lenses like this one were used during the first live television broadcasts from space made from a black-and-white RCA television camera. The first three Apollo missions used these RCA cameras and Fairchild lenses. Apollo 10 and the lunar landing missions used color cameras.

Some astronauts objected to adding photography to their busy schedules, but their broadcasts drew millions of viewers and exposed the world to life in space, live on their home TVs. The cameras had lenses for different applications, including a telephoto lens to capture images of Earth from space.

NASA transferred this lens to the Museum in 1973.

 Display Status

This object is on display in James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

James S. McDonnell Space Hangar
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type EQUIPMENT-Photographic Manufacturer Argus Optics
 Dimensions 3-D: 7 x 5.1cm (2 3/4 x 2 in.)
 Materials Metal, glass
 Inventory Number A19731489000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.