Night Photographic System.
Abstract
The Night Photographic System program covered the detailed design, fabrication and test of a flyable, feasibility model of the KS-126A Camera Set. The Camera Set uses an imageintensified 70-mm film format camera together with a covert electronic flash illumination source to provide low altitude high velocity reconnaissance photography of wide lateral coverage (120 deg) and longitudinal track length of up to 120 nmi. The image intensified camera acquires imagery as a sequence of discrete left oblique, vertical and right oblique frames using continuously rotating scan prism array of unique design. The camera prism array is synchronized with the illumination source so that as the prism of each format pass in front of the objective lens, illuminator reflectors coresponding to that format prosition are triggered. The camera uses an 80-mm electrostatic focus, electronic shuttered image intensifier tube having very high photocathode sensitivity in the near-infrared (IR) region. For flight test purposes the night photographic system was delivered installed in a modified RF-4C 600-gallon fuel tank. Initial flight tests demonstrated airborne photographic resolution of 20 lp/mm at an altitude of 800 feet.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0916617
Entities
People
- Earl E. Waller