Five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched in 1966 and 1967 to map the lunar surface before the Apollo landings. All five missions were successful and 99 percent of the moon was photographed. The Lunar Orbiters had an imaging system consisting of a dual-lens camera, a film-processing unit, a readout scanner and a film handling apparatus.
Five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched in 1966 and 1967 to map the lunar surface before the Apollo landings.
All five missions were successful and 99 percent of the moon was photographed.
The Lunar Orbiters had an ingenious imaging system consisting of a dual-lens camera, a film-processing unit, a readout scanner and a film handling apparatus. Here a researcher is doing a preparatory examination of a Lunar Orbiter.Image Credit: NASA