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The Nikon Z9 goes to the moon. NASA has chosen the high-end Z9, one of the full cameras we have ever examined, because the official handheld digicam for the Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2026 (give or take), which can put astronauts on the moon for the primary time since 1972.
Nevertheless it will not be your common Z9 that makes it off-planet. As one may count on, the Z9 shall be closely modified to deal with each the pains of house journey and life on the moon.
Nikon and NASA are redesigning circuitry to forestall cosmic radiation from damaging the digicam, and a brand new grip is being added with particular buttons for frequent controls so astronauts can function it whereas carrying gloves. Customized firmware will modify noise discount, HDR options, menus, file numbering, and extra. A number of Nikkor Z lenses can even be modified to deal with the floor of the moon.
The tip result’s a tool that NASA calls the HULC (Handheld Common Lunar Digicam). As NASA notes, it is an enormous leap ahead from when Apollo astronauts used viewfinderless large-format movie cameras that have been hooked up to their spacesuits at chest stage.
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NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Drew Feustel apply utilizing an early design of the Handheld Common Lunar Digicam through the Joint Extravehicular Exercise and Human Floor Mobility Check Group (JETT) Area Check 3 in Arizona. NASA / Invoice Stafford |
The Z9 will head to house aboard the large Area Launch System rocket, which can deploy the Orion spacecraft that can make the journey to the moon and again. The capsule will be part of the SpaceX-designed Starship, which can carry out the moon touchdown. Six-and-a-half days later, Starship will return to house to satisfy Orion for the journey again to Earth, the place it is going to splash down within the Pacific Ocean.
Extra particulars in regards to the Nikon Z9’s journey to house may be discovered beneath. These within the mission can go to NASA’s Artemis III web site.
MIRRORLESS GOES TO THE MOON: NIKON ENTERS INTO SPACE ACT AGREEMENT WITH NASA FOR ARTEMIS MISSION SUPPORT WITH THE NIKON Z 9 CAMERA
Nikon and NASA Collaborating on Handheld Digicam Growth
MELVILLE, NY (February 29, 2024) – Nikon Inc. has entered right into a Area Act settlement with the Nationwide Aeronautics and Area Administration (NASA) to help the company’s Artemis marketing campaign with the Handheld Common Lunar Digicam (HULC) growth. The Nikon Z 9, Nikon’s mirrorless full-frame flagship, as applied within the HULC system, would be the handheld digicam for the upcoming Artemis III mission which shall be utilized by the crew returning to the floor of the Moon.
The Artemis marketing campaign is an bold and vital enterprise for humanity. Artemis will return us to the Moon with a purpose to set up a basis for long-term scientific lunar analysis and exploration, finally main as a passageway for journey to Mars. Since humankind’s first forays into house, handheld cameras have been used to doc the journey, sending again iconic imagery and for analysis. This Area Act Settlement is a collaboration between NASA and Nikon Inc. to make sure the present state-of-the-art full-frame digicam can survive lunar environments whereas growing an environment friendly and optimum platform for picture and video seize for the mission.
“The chance to collaborate with NASA on this endeavor is just exhilarating but humbling, as we understand the advantages of this mission have the potential to have an effect on all of mankind sooner or later,” stated Naoki Onozato, President and CEO, Nikon Inc. “As one of many many suppliers and producers collaborating with NASA as a part of the Area Act, our goal is to finest equip the crew as they bravely carry humanity again to the floor of the Moon, and probably past.”
The Artemis III mission is scheduled to launch NASA’s SLS (Area Launch System) rocket with the company’s Orion spacecraft in September 2026. The crew’s historic expedition would be the first human touchdown on the lunar floor since 1972, and this mission can even mark the primary time a girl will stroll on the Moon. Throughout this 30-day mission, the crew will enter lunar orbit, after which two astronauts will land on the lunar floor within the lunar module (SpaceX’s Starship Human Touchdown System). After spending roughly seven days on the lunar floor conducting analysis and a number of Moonwalks, they are going to return to the Orion spacecraft to affix the opposite two crew members and return to Earth. To assist seize imagery, the mission has the necessity for a standard digicam platform to scale back total mass and growth efforts whereas simplifying coaching and rising effectivity.
Concerning the Modified Cameras
The Moon floor and lunar surroundings is a harsh and unforgiving vacuum, which poses a number of technological and engineering challenges. The floor is topic to huge temperature swings, with fixed bombardment of cosmic radiation that may harm electrical parts. Nikon’s engineers are working carefully with NASA to develop options to maximise reliability when working underneath this type of excessive surroundings, together with the redesign of varied circuits and management sequences throughout the digicam to face up to the huge quantities of radiation. Assist can even be given for thermal vacuum testing, working varied assessments and simulations to assist be sure that the digicam maintains operational standing when 238,000 miles away from Earth.
Moreover, the digicam will have to be utilized by astronauts throughout extravehicular actions (EVAs), that are cases when the crew shall be in house or on Moonwalks. To ensure that astronauts to comfortably and simply use the Z 9 when carrying the thick gloves of a spacesuit, a customized grip is being developed by NASA, which incorporates frequent controls akin to a shutter launch, playback, nonetheless/video seize switching and extra. This grip will hook up with the digicam by way of the 10-pin terminal, which shall be usable with specialised customized firmware created for the cameras. To guard the digicam, lens and housing throughout EVA, a particular “thermal blanket” shall be created by NASA, which has similarities to these at the moment used throughout exterior spacewalks by Worldwide Area Station astronauts. A collection of NIKKOR Z lenses can even be used for the mission, and those who shall be actively used on the Moon shall be modified to face up to the tough lunar surroundings.
Just like the cameras utilized by the Area Station crew, the firmware can even be specifically modified for this mission. These modifications embody accounting for the totally different circuitry, increasing noise discount to decrease shutter speeds to account for the results of fixed bombardment of cosmic radiation that the crew and equipment encounter. Further adjustments have been made to the file naming sequence, in addition to default settings and controls which are optimized for exterior missions. Modifications have additionally been made to the in-camera communication management to simplify the astronaut’s workflow. Further modifications embody shutter defend optimization, enhanced HDR performance and modified default settings for menu gadgets.
Chronicling Historical past Collectively
Nikon cameras have been utilized by NASA and house businesses extensively, most lately with the arrival of unmodified Z 9 digicam to the crew of the Worldwide Area Station. Because the Apollo 15 mission greater than 50 years in the past, Nikon cameras and lenses have been utilized by NASA for house exploration. Beginning in 1999, Nikon cameras (Nikon F5) and NIKKOR lenses have been used aboard the ISS to help in scientific analysis, upkeep and aiding astronauts capturing iconic photos of the Earth, the heavens and past.
For extra details about the NASA Area Act settlement, and a listing of the present Area Act agreements, please go to the web site right here.
For extra data the Z 9, Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless flagship, please go to Nikonusa.com/z9.
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