<title>Flexible High-Resolution Film Recorder System</title>

Abstract

The Image Processing Facility (IPF) of the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center is required to provide image recording support for several missions incorporating a variety of sensors with widely differing characteristics. In many cases, the general sensor parameters are specified, but detailed information such as the exact image array size and the desired transfer function are not finalized until near the launch of the spacecraft. Economic and scheduling constraints preclude the development of a different film recording device for each sensor; therefore, the approach chosen by NASA was to develop a versatile film recording system capable of meeting the requirements of all of the imaging sensors for which film production responsibilities were envisioned. The recording system developed was designated the high-resolution film recorder (HRFR). A competitive procurement resulted in the selection of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) for development of the HRFR. This paper addresses the technical requirements imposed by sensor constraints and end users of the film product, and the implementation techniques used to satisfy those requirements. The ability to produce annotated imagery with array sizes ranging from 1 to 400 million picture elements and a programmable radiometric transfer function are among the many capabilities of the recorder. Innovative design and engineering approaches were required to provide the desired versatility without sacrificing performance. Performance of the system will be addressed, with examples of space acquired imagery.