Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Kaltenbach, J. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Kaltenbach, J. L..

The view from the Shuttle Orbiter - Observing the oceans from manned space flights

Examples of earth-looking hand-held photography and orbital sensor imagery of ocean features and phenomena in the framework of the Space Shuttle Earth Observations Project are presented. These include images of a floating substance in Capricorn Channel off northeastern Queensland, Australia; atolls in the central Maldive Islands; a spiral eddy and probable oil slick in the Caribbean Sea north of Aruba; and spiral eddies recorded in sun glint over the Mozambique Channel. It is concluded that the observation of the world's oceans during Shuttle missions with the trained eyes of the crewmen and documentation with hand-held photography add a significant dimension to the remote sensing of the ocean.

Kaltenbach, J. L.

Skylab explores the earth

During the third manned mission on Skylab, an experiment was conducted by the crewmen to determine what type of earth survey information man could obtain through visual observations and by handheld cameras. More than 850 observations and 2000 photographs were taken for 16 different scientific disciplines. Observations and photographs were taken over the entire range of possible sun angles (twilight to local noon) and viewing angles (high oblique to vertical). Results of the experiment confirm that man's ability to recognize objects and patterns, to integrate his observations over a range of aspects and lighting angles, to reason, and to make selective observations, can bring another dimension to the study of the earth.

Wilmarth, V. R.

Visual observations from space

A visual observations project was established as part of the Skylab experimental program in order to optimize the collection of scientific data during the 84-day Skylab 4 mission. One objective of this project was the determination of the capabilities of the crewmen in the visual identification of various types of surface, air, and water phenomena of the earth which may be observed from the Skylab orbit. Another objective was a study of the possibilities provided by visual observations, supplemented by photographs, in the support of scientific investigations. Aspects of premission preparations are considered along with details concerning the equipment to be used and questions of mission operations. The results of the project show that the presence of man in an earth-observations program contributes a significant additional capability which is not available with a totally automated program.

Lenoir, W. B.

Skylab 4 visual observations project report

The Skylab 4 Visual Observations Project was undertaken to determine the ways in which man can contribute to future earth-orbital observational programs. The premission training consisted of 17 hours of lectures by scientists representing 16 disciplines and provided the crewmen information on observational and photographic procedures and the scientific significance of this information. During the Skylab 4 mission, more than 850 observations and 2000 photographs with the 70-millimeter Hasselblad and 35-millimeter Nikon cameras were obtained for many investigative areas. Preliminary results of the project indicate that man can obtain new and unique information to support satellite earth-survey programs because of his inherent capability to make selective observations, to integrate the information, and to record the data by describing and photographing the observational sites.

Kaltenbach, J. L.