24 Oct 1946 -- 66 years ago

Platapus · 10-23-12, 07:05 PM

24 Oct 12 marks the 66th anniversary of the first picture of the earth taken from space.

The United States placed a 35mm movie camera in the payload area of a German V-2 Rocket. The rocket achieved an altitude of 65 miles.

The Karman line establishes the boundary to space at 100km or about 63 miles.

This made it the first space craft to take a picture of the earth. Since the V-2 had no re-entry or recovery system, the film of the movie camera was moved to a heavy steel case after being exposed. When the V-2 rocket crashed to the New Mexico desert at about 350mph, the recover team went to the crater and were surprised to find that the steel case survived and so did the film.

Prior to this 1946 experiment, the highest altitude photograph was taken by the Explorer II balloon which reached an altitude of just over 13 miles in 1935.

Between 1946 and 1950 more than 1,000 pictures of the earth were taken by V-2 rockets. One reached an altitude of 100 miles. Pretty good for the late 1940's

First picture of the earth taken from space.

Stealhead · 10-23-12, 07:21 PM

Interesting post it is nice to see something about the first half of the space race.I always think that the famous era from Sputnik and after gets a little too much attention and the early and very important years get largely ignored.

I am guessing that those V-2s where launched from the White Sands area my dad had a friend a who had been stationed there in 45,46,47 with the Army.If I recall didn't they end up raising the altitude that was considered space at some point?I seem to recall that they considered early U2 pilots astronauts until they later determined that space was in fact a bit higher they actually fly at the edge of space of course those early U2 pilots received no public attention thier duties being highly classified at the time so they could not even tell their wives "hey I was an astronaut until they learned that I really was not operating in space but in fact the edge of space."

Jimbuna · 10-24-12, 05:20 AM

At least the US found a 'good' use for the rocket....interesting, first I've heard of it.

geetrue · 10-24-12, 09:16 AM

This is so interesting due to the path the mind of man has taken from a little over
a year after the end of WWII to till today, ever wanting to know more, ever reaching,
gaining another grasp on where we live.

Good find

Stealhead · 10-24-12, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetrue

This is so interesting due to the path the mind of man has taken from a little over
a year after the end of WWII to till today, ever wanting to know more, ever reaching,
gaining another grasp on where we live.

Good find

Actually this started before WWII had even ended and even Wernher von Braun always had the ultimate goal of space travel even before WWII had started.Some where testing rockets with the goal of space travel even in the 1920s. If anything WWII boosted in an inhumane way the progress and also introduced rockets as a weapon of mass destruction. Wernher von Braun actually got the attention of the Gestapo because it was felt that he was more concerned with using the V-2 for space travel rather than as a weapon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

Platapus · 10-24-12, 04:50 PM

Let us not forget that our own "space race" had little to do with science and the betterment of humanity but more for the development of ICBM technology and political one-up-manship with the ruskies.

Unfortunately, our history shows that innovation is often spurred by war and finding out cooleo ways of killing people.

War, even a cold one, is good for science.

Platapus · 10-24-12, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

IIf I recall didn't they end up raising the altitude that was considered space at some point?

The Karman Line of 100km(63mi) is the most common boundary of space.

The United States Air Force, while trying to "Aim High" actually aims a little lower. 80 KM (50mi) can earn you an Astronaut badge.

No one has raised the boundary of space, but there is talk about, in the future, raising it to either 130km (80mi). This is actually coming from COPUS - Committee for the Peaceful Use of Space, specifically the Report of the Legal Subcommittee on its forty-eighth session, held in Vienna from 23 March to 3 April 2009.

But nothing came of it. Besides 100km is a lot easier to remember than 139km.

10-23-12, 07:05 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	24 Oct 1946 -- 66 years ago 24 Oct 12 marks the 66th anniversary of the first picture of the earth taken from space. The United States placed a 35mm movie camera in the payload area of a German V-2 Rocket. The rocket achieved an altitude of 65 miles. The Karman line establishes the boundary to space at 100km or about 63 miles. This made it the first space craft to take a picture of the earth. Since the V-2 had no re-entry or recovery system, the film of the movie camera was moved to a heavy steel case after being exposed. When the V-2 rocket crashed to the New Mexico desert at about 350mph, the recover team went to the crater and were surprised to find that the steel case survived and so did the film. Prior to this 1946 experiment, the highest altitude photograph was taken by the Explorer II balloon which reached an altitude of just over 13 miles in 1935. Between 1946 and 1950 more than 1,000 pictures of the earth were taken by V-2 rockets. One reached an altitude of 100 miles. Pretty good for the late 1940's First picture of the earth taken from space. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

10-23-12, 07:21 PM	#2
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Interesting post it is nice to see something about the first half of the space race.I always think that the famous era from Sputnik and after gets a little too much attention and the early and very important years get largely ignored. I am guessing that those V-2s where launched from the White Sands area my dad had a friend a who had been stationed there in 45,46,47 with the Army.If I recall didn't they end up raising the altitude that was considered space at some point?I seem to recall that they considered early U2 pilots astronauts until they later determined that space was in fact a bit higher they actually fly at the edge of space of course those early U2 pilots received no public attention thier duties being highly classified at the time so they could not even tell their wives "hey I was an astronaut until they learned that I really was not operating in space but in fact the edge of space." Last edited by Stealhead; 10-23-12 at 07:36 PM.

10-24-12, 05:20 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	At least the US found a 'good' use for the rocket....interesting, first I've heard of it. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-24-12, 09:16 AM	#4
geetrue Cold War Boomer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,837 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	This is so interesting due to the path the mind of man has taken from a little over a year after the end of WWII to till today, ever wanting to know more, ever reaching, gaining another grasp on where we live. Good find __________________

10-24-12, 04:50 PM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Let us not forget that our own "space race" had little to do with science and the betterment of humanity but more for the development of ICBM technology and political one-up-manship with the ruskies. Unfortunately, our history shows that innovation is often spurred by war and finding out cooleo ways of killing people. War, even a cold one, is good for science. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.