DODGE_v_bw_o_PLRD (1967, unnumbered prob. JHUAPL photo, film mfg code F708J5C)

An exceedingly rare, unicorn actually, black & white 1967 Polaroid photograph of the earth, taken by the Department of Defense Gravity Experiment (DODGE) satellite.
I’m certain this was taken from/off a monitor at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), possibly within the Satellite Communications Facility (SCF), where it was likely received.
The photograph's field of view ICW Fig. 1, page 3 at the following site, confirms it to have been taken by the “60° - FIELD B & W CAMERA”. You can even see two parallel antennas(?) to the left, maybe even one to the right, just like in the diagram:
www.jhuapl.edu/Content/techdigest/pdf/APL-V06-N05/APL-06-...
Credit: JHUAPL website
Most of the lower border of the dark linear swath across the upper portion of the earth’s disk is actually the northwest & northern Mediterranean coast of the African continent.
For those unfamiliar with the DODGE satellite, the smaller sphere is not the moon. It's a color calibration/chart sphere, attached to a boom extending out from the 'nose' of the satellite.

4.25” x ~7.5” (at its maximum dimension). Actual image size is 3.5” x 4.5”. You can see where the required, hand-applied glossy/protective ‘print coater’ ends. I can almost smell the pungent acidic aroma…brings back fond memories of a simpler time.

The following wonderful site confirms the ‘originality’ of the photo, with the manufacturing code of F708J5C on the verso breaking out to July 1967. So it was indeed fresh film in the camera:

gawainweaver.com/images/uploads/file/Polaroid_ID.pdf
Credit: GAWAIN WEAVER ART CONSERVATION website

Although I know neither jack nor squat about meteorology, I believe creative extrapolation of the cloud patterns/movement places this and all following/below photographs within at least a week of each other. Or not:
twitter.com/jhuapl/status/1121399208089661441
Credit: Johns Hopkins APL/Twitter

And:

www.jhuapl.edu/Content/techdigest/images/issues/APL-cover...

And these bastards’ “contribution”:

www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/view-of-the-first-co...
No credit due.

Launched 1 July 1967, aboard a Titan III-C, the United States Navy's DODGE satellite was primarily intended to explore gravity-gradient stabilization at near-geosynchronous altitude. DODGE carried 10 booms that were radio-commanded to extend or retract along three different axes. Data from in-orbit experiments provided fundamental constants for use in controlling future high-altitude spacecraft. DODGE also carried a number of commandable magnetic-damping devices and two TV cameras to determine satellite alignment. One of the cameras also provided the first color pictures of the full Earth.

Slightly paraphrased description, credit: David Darling/The Worlds of David Darling

Excellent information:

www.jhuapl.edu/TechDigest/Detail?Journal=A&VolumeID=6...
Credit: “JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY” website

Also:

“The DODGE (Department of Defense Gravity Experiment) satellite was orbited primarily to study a number of advanced biaxial and triaxial gravity-gradient stabilization techniques at near-synchronous altitudes. Secondary objectives included obtaining measurements of the earth's magnetic field at near-synchronous altitudes and black-and-white and color TV photography of the entire earth disk. DODGE was launched as part of a multiple DOD satellite payload that included DATS 1, LES 5, and IDCSP 16, 17, and 18. The satellite was in the form of an octagonal aluminum shell with a truncated pyramid at the top and a 25.4-cm-diameter cylindrical mast extending 1.57 m from the satellite base. The satellite body was 2.41 m long and 1.22 m in diameter. A total of 10 knobbed booms were carried on board. Upon radio command, these booms could be independently extended or retracted along three axes to various limits out to 45.75 m. The cylindrical mast housed a 4.6-m boom that extended through the end of the mast, two 15.25-m-long damper booms that extended in the x-y plane, and triaxial vector magnetometer sensors. The remaining seven booms were contained in the satellite body along with a two-camera (one color and one black-and-white) vidicon camera system. The command system consisted of a dual command receiver, dual command logic, and power switching circuitry. The telemetry system included two directional antennas mounted on the mast, two 38-channel commutators for housekeeping data, and a dual transmitter system that transmitted analog data at a frequency of 240 MHz and TV data at 136.8 MHz. The satellite was successfully stabilized 12 days after launch by means of the gravity-gradient booms and libration dampening systems. It was oriented with its base and mast directed toward the center of the earth's disk. The mission was a success and proved the feasibility of achieving triaxial gravity-gradient stabilization at synchronous altitudes using passive and semipassive techniques. The satellite operated for over 3 yr and took thousands of black-and-white and color pictures of the earth. Early in 1971, problems with the batteries on board limited operation to only solar acquisition periods. The satellite was placed in an operational off mode in early 1971.”

Credit the NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) website, at:
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967...

Taken on: September 17, 2022

Tags:

cloud patterns

African continent

gravity gradient

color calibration chart

gravity gradient satellite

JHUAPL

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

DoD satellite

DODGE satellite

Department of Defense Gravity Experiment

Department of Defense Gravity Experiment satellite

geosynchronous

geosynchronous orbit

geosynchronous satellite

earth from space

earth from orbit

black and white « less

Sets appears in: • Breaking The Bonds & Firsts • Satellites: Views By/Views Of more » • Miscellaneous « less

Groups appears in: • B&W • Astronomy, Stars, Planets and Space more » • Riding with Robots on the High Frontier • Solar system and planets • Space The Final Frontier « less

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