Cool pics from space

Steve - great photos! Brought back some great memories -

Back in the pre-Paleozoic, when I was still teaching, one of my areas of research was the application of space photography to geology (specifically, to water resources). Prior to the first LandSat missions, we used military high altitude photos (U-2, for those of you who are old enough to remember the U-2). We needed top security clearance to have access to those photos, and we used the imagery in relation to underground nuclear testing at the Central Nevada test site (north of the NV Test site, and used for testing our largest devices (1+ megatons - Hiroshima was, as I recall, 15 kilotons.

We recognized the importance of the imagery for geological studies, and were experienced in the high altitude imagery, so prior to launching LandSat, we received a grant that allowed us to study 'degraded' U-2 photos (degraded to what folks thought satellite imagery would yield). It was fascinating work, and then we got the first LandSat photos - wow!! Degraded, nuts! The space imagery was better than what we had with the real U-2 photos! Those photos, by the way, were mostly not 'stuff' in the visible range - we had photos from all parts of the spectrum.

(By the way, some of the photos revealed 'strategic' information never previously considered - Ocean surface photos were revealing the movement of submerged nuclear submarines, for instance! - and the photos had to be 'pulled' from public use)

Some of those photos, of course, I used in the geology classroom. What a teaching device!! Why, I even gave lectures in the Art Dept. using photos from space, astronomical photos, and photos through electron photomicroscopes all in the same 'lecture' (actually, I did no talking in those 'lectures' -just photos)- art students had no idea what scale they were seeing - all they saw was color, shape, form, symmetry or asymmetry in the photos - they all wanted to know "what is it?" And, true to my teaching style, I wouldn't answer. "Just look at it -- look at the artistic values," is all I'd say. And those 'lectures' soon were in high demand from the art profs. Look at the photos on Steve's suggested site as art - marvelous.

Thanks for the site, Steve - such good memories to share.
 
Whoah yeah - those are awesome Steve - thanks for sharing. I love this stuff. And, that shot of Nevada - it reminds me of a PC motherboard!

El/Bill the pre-Paleozoic instructor - funny stuff (ROFL). I do, in fact, remember the Dragon Lady;and, even the launch of the Echo satellite series. My dad worked for AT&T/Bell Laboraties at the time and he was very enthusiastic about explaining to our family each week what he had been learning and hearing as the Echo satellite series was preparing to launch by NASA.

Great stuff - brings back some memories.

Thanks for sharing the photos.
 
Steve, thanks for a very cool link. Those pix are really awesome. I've been back several times, and find something new each time.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Wow what great pictures. It's really and exciting time to be alive put aside the problems with the economy and other issues. How many remember the first time they saw a TV? How about those amazing transistor radios! A can of beer that doesn't need a church key. I'll bet soon AT&T will come up with private lines :D
 
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