NASA Nikon Space Camera Profiles: NASA Modified Nikon N90S W/ Kodak DCS 460C Digital Back

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The Kodak DCS 460c was the second digital Nikon camera used by NASA in space, replacing the NASA Nikon F4 Electronic Still Camera (NASA's home grown digital system). The DCS460c was a much more compact, higher resolution body that made its debut in space aboard the shuttle Atlantis in March of 1996.

The DCS460 was produced for NASA in three versions: Colour, Monochrome and Infrared, and all were configured with a Nikon N90 body. The monochrome version used the standard N90 body, while the Colour version utilized the N90s body. I have not personally seen the Infrared version to confirm which body it used.

The digital back was capable of rendering 6 megapixel images at 12 bits/colour. Its imager measured 18.4mm x 27.6mm which yielded a magnification of the focal length of only 1.3x compared to modern Nikon DX format digital sensors which magnify the focal length by 1.5x.

The camera allowed for normal operation in all exposure modes and had a continuous-frame capture rate of approximately 12 seconds/image. Its large rechargeable battery pack was installed inside the digital back on the side of the drive, and would yield 250 images per charge.

The Kodak DCS460 cameras played a key role in being able to transmit high resolution images back to Earth in near-real time. The camera was also an essential figure in the highly successful EarthKam project which students were able to send instructions to space of images they wanted photographed, and have those images returned directly from the Space Station

This page will provide more detail on the specific camera depicted below, pointing out its unique attributes.

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This camera flew into space a number of times from 1997 to 2001. While there may be more flights I am not aware of, I can confirm with certainty that it flew on at least 5 shuttle missions aboard at least 3 different Shuttles, plus spent almost 10 months continuously in space aboard the International Space Station The camera was first taken into space aboard the Shuttle Atlantis on STS-81 in January of 1997. The camera returned to space on STS-89 in January of 1998 aboard shuttle Endeavour. After a post flight inspection and brief rest, the camera returned to space once again on STS-95 along with John Glenn in October of 1998 aboard Shuttle Discovery. STS-99 would be the next flight once again aboard Endeavour in February of 2000. The camera was proving to be a favourite of NASA's and as such took residence on the International Space Station for Expeditions ISS001 and ISS002 lasting from November 2, 2000 returning to Earth likely on the 21st of August, 2001 aboard the shuttle Discovery on mission STS-105.

Note the "Class III Not for Flight' decal applied to the grip. When an item returns from a mission, NASA inspects the equipment thoroughly. During this inspection they would looks for points of failure and either address them or decommission the equipment. An item may also be decommissioned if the equipment is made obsolete. When this decommissioning takes place, the NOT FOR FLIGHT decal would generally be applied and the unit would be taken out of service

The second decal that appears on the front indicates that this particular model was a Colour Digital camera. There were other versions that NASA used including a monochrome and an infrared model

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...
nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

Light blue velcro patches are applied by NASA to equipment that is used in zero gravity. This enables pieces to be held in place when not being used, and prevents them from floating around inside the shuttle or space station. Note also the ISS (International Space Station) painted on the side.

A Bar code decal also appears on the side. Its unclear its purpose, but likely for inventory purposes.

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The rear of the camera features a number of NASA decals. NASA would customize decals to act as 'reminders' for the Astronauts with respect to camera settings and connections Astronauts were given fairly extensive training in the photographic equipment at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX however it was no doubt very helpful to have these additional aids.

Note the decal that shows 'ASA 100 200'. This is an interesting decal. The consumer version of the Kodak DCS460c Colour model was designed to have an effective sensor sensitivity of ISO 80. This decal suggests that perhaps the NASA version may have had a modified sensor enabling it to be more sensitive to low light.

The camera has its Part Number decal on the rear. The camera is prefixed ESC to denote (Electronic Still Camera)

Connections on the rear of the digital back were for attaching various equipment.

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The above connector was used for both the charger to keep the battery powered, as well as for cable release / intervalometer controls

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The connection on the back right of the camera was for a SCSI cable so that pictures could be taken and then immediately sent to Earth
I also have the SCSI cable that was used. The connector ends are still wrapped as they were when they came to me from NASA.
Note the Matching Green Spot decals on the ends of the SCSI cable and the connector.

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

Note the blue velcro patch on the connecting end of the SCSI cable - again confirming this was for use in zero gravity

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The cable is tagged with the NASA part number (SEDxxxxxx) and the Serial Number.
NASA's photographic equipment all have either a decal with this infomation, or the part is actually engraved with it

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The camera has its Part Number decal on the rear. The camera is prefixed ESC to denote (Electronic Still Camera)

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

A door on the side would store the camera's Hard Drive. This was before the days of the memory card, so the camera hard drive was considerably larger.

NASA did not surplus their hard drives. The actual drives NASA used were made by Callunacard. Initially, they had a storage capacity of 260MB so they could store 42 images. Eventually the storage was increased to 520MB on the drives for later flights.

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

The serial number is 460-1848. This serial number can be tagged back to the Metafile from the actual digital images produced by this camera.
Over 100 images from this camera and their metafile data can be found on NASA's online image library.
Here is a sample image, taken of the Shuttle Endeavour with Earth behind it:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS001&roll=E&frame=5854

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...
Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center

Scrolling down the page, look for the VIEW CAMERA FILE button and click it to see the metafile tagged to the image:

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

Note the matching serial number:

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

Some other photos taken with this camera:

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

nasa, nikon, space camera, flown, space shuttle, nikkor, F, F3, small camera, big camera, large camera, F4, F4S, DCS 460, DCS660...

Research and Photo Credits:
Johnson Space Center, Houston TX
United Space Alliance
Space Center Houston
Nikkor Club
Marco Cavina
Erik Black
Peter Coeln - Westlicht Photographica