Abstract:
During the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab flights, orbiting astronauts collected valuable information by means of observations and photography of Earth. Strengthened by the experience gained on these flights, the Earth Observations and Photography Experiment was carried out as on of the American objectives of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in July 1975. The main goal of the experiment was to utilize the special capabilities of trained observers (namely, the American astronauts of the joint mission) in visually studying and photographing specific Earth features and dynamic phenomena. These special capabilities include the sensitivity of the human eye to subtle color variations (e.g., to desert sands or sea water), and the speed with which the eye-brain interaction results in interpretation of the scene and recognition of important features. This latter capability allows instantaneous selection of important sites for photographic documentation at any moment, which in turn, enhances the quality of photographic data from space platforms. Another goal of the experiment was to establish the role of human observers in future space programs, particularly the Space Shuttle.
This book contains a detailed account of the experiment objectives, training of astronauts, preparation of aids for their use, and the results of experiment performance. These details serve as a historical-archival record and as a guide for conducting similar projects in the future.
The scientific objectives of the experiment included the collection of data in support of ongoing research in the fields of geology (particularly desert studies), oceanography, hydrology, meteorology, and environmental science. A summary of significant results in given; however, detailed scientific analyses are currently being performed by a number of investigators in various fields in the United States and abroad and their results will be published later, as a special publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
