Nasa Wraps Its Space-Flashes in Cute Little Spacesuits
Posted in: flash, NASA, nikon, space, Today's Chili
In space, Nikon’s SB800 speedlights get their own cute, custom-made spacesuits. Photo NASA
You or I might prepare for an extreme photography trip with a few Ziploc bags or even a proper waterproof housing. When NASA packs for space, though, things are a little more complicated.
The NASA photo above shows a Nikon D2X modified for use in orbit. Further, it shows an SB800 speedlight comfily ensconced inside its own cute little space suit. While a pro-level DSLR requires nothing more than a firmware tweak and a “lubricant modification” to work in the extremes of space, the flash needs a little more coddling.
The white cover is a “thermal blanket” which protects the unit from extreme temperatures, and keeps the “touch temperature” between minus 129 and plus 120 degrees Celsius.
But underneath that cover is a pressure suit. NASA says that the flash won’t work properly in a vacuum, so it gets wrapped in a pressurized jacket to make it feel like it’s back on Earth. A modified SB29 sync cord connects the camera and flash together.
So what becomes of the cameras after a successful mission? Unlike the Apollo missions’ Hasselblads, which were left up on the moon (imagine what one of those would go for at auction if it was ever rescued), the Nikons return to Earth. Then, they are inspected to see if they are fit to go up again. The biggest problem is the effect of cosmic radiation on the sensors, which can kill pixels. Enough dead pixels in one camera and it is grounded forever.
How Does NASA Get a Nikon D2Xs DSLR Ready to Go to Space? [Popular Photography]
See Also:
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- NASA Orders Eleven Space Cameras From Nikon
- Video: Cameras Mounted on Fireworks Show Dizzying Point-of-View …
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